Celano: opening of Sculture – Nuovi segni

The Parco delle Rimembranze in Celano hosts the inaugural work of the Sculture – Nuovi segni project, an initiative designed to preserve the spiritual and cultural legacy of Saint Francis through contemporary art. The opening sculpture, by Emilia-based artist Marianna Costi, is titled San Francesco riceve le stimmate (Saint Francis Receives the Stigmata).

About the work

The piece captures the moment of the stigmata with a contemporary sensibility: a rugged, rock-like base contrasts with the elongated figure of the saint. The artist seeks to give material presence to spiritual intensity, using traditional materials within a modern figurative language.

Project framework

Funded by the National Committee for the celebration of the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis’s death, the project will commission ten permanent sculptures by artists from Italy and abroad, installed across different Italian towns. The aim is to create a distributed artistic itinerary that bridges historical memory and contemporary expression.

Practical information

• Work: San Francesco riceve le stimmate (Marianna Costi)
• Location: Parco delle Rimembranze, Celano
• Inauguration: 18 May 2026
• Features: traditional materials combined with modern figurative approach; permanent outdoor installation

Why see it

The installation is a chance to see how sculptural tradition is reinterpreted today, prompting reflection on universal themes such as fraternity, simplicity and care for the environment. It is designed to engage both local communities and cultural visitors in a shared route of public art.