In Lucca: Alfredo Catarsini exhibition at Palazzo Guinigi and national

In Lucca: Alfredo Catarsini exhibition at Palazzo Guinigi and national novel launch

Location: Palazzo Guinigi, Via Guinigi 29, Lucca. Admission: free. Exhibition hours: daily 10:00–19:00.

Lucca hosts a double tribute to Alfredo Catarsini: a monographic exhibition and the national debut of his previously unpublished novel. The ground-floor rooms of Palazzo Guinigi present "Il Novecento di Catarsini. Dalla macchia alla macchina," featuring sixty works, twenty of which have never been shown during this tour.

• Works on display: 60 pieces, including a Maternità nera, the 1945 Incursione aerea, and the 1952 Lungo canale Burlamacca.
• Gallery dedicated to Mechanical Symbolism: 13 works addressing the relationship between nature, humanity and machinery.
• Distributed exhibition: the "I Luoghi di Catarsini" trail places another 50 works across venues from Lucca to Versilia, totalling 110 works.

The exhibition is open until 3 May 2026. For visiting the permanent collection in Viareggio: +39 342 1684031 or [email protected].

National novel presentation and guided visit

On 28 April 2026 at 18:00, at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni (Piazza San Martino 7, Lucca), the national premiere of the unpublished novel Tra l'incudine e il martello will take place. Edited by Elena Torre and published by La nave di Teseo, the book features a preface by Vittorio Sgarbi. Admission is free.

• A free guided tour of the exhibition is scheduled at 16:00 as a prelude to the evening event.
• Speakers include Vittorio Sgarbi, Elena Martinelli (Fondazione Alfredo Catarsini), Rodolfo Bona (curator), and other institutional guests.

The novel is set in post–World War I Viareggio and follows Gregorio, a young blacksmith, exploring workers' movements, political repression and the search for freedom.

Accessibility

The exhibition participates in the "Art Accessible to All" project: audio descriptions in Italian and English via QR codes and a tactile bas-relief workshop (1:10 scale) made with the Museo Tattile Statale Omero to enable access for visually impaired visitors.

Practical note: entry is free but exhibition opening hours are fixed (10:00–19:00). For group visits or inquiries about the permanent collection, use the contacts provided above.