Must-see exhibitions in April across Italy: openings and key shows

Must-see exhibitions in April across Italy

April brings a rich programme of exhibitions around Italy: photography festivals, solo projects and large-scale shows combining archaeology and contemporary practice. Below is a curated selection of key openings and practical information to plan your visit.

• EXPOSED Torino Photo Festival (Turin) — 9 April / 2 June

  Under the theme Mettersi a nudo (Exposing oneself), the festival hosts 18 indoor and outdoor shows exploring identity, body and representation. Highlights include Bernard Plossu at the Regional Museum of Natural Sciences and site-specific projects in the Crypt of San Michele.

• Toni Thorimbert. Donne in vista — CAMERA, Turin (Project Room) — 9 April / 2 June

  An exhibition of around sixty photographs focused on the portrait of women, ranging from formal portraits to intimate, informal works, curated from the artist’s archive.

• Cecilia Vicuña. El glaciar ido — Castello di Rivoli (Rivoli/Turin) — 29 April / 20 September

  The artist’s first solo museum show in Italy: a site-specific commission for the Manica Lunga that reinterprets the quipu tradition as suspended, immersive installations, together with video works and new poems.

• GAZA, the future has an ancient heart. Materials and memories of the Mediterranean — Fondazione Merz (Turin) — 22 April / 27 September

  A large international exhibition pairing some eighty archaeological objects (from the Bronze Age to the Ottoman period) with works by Palestinian and international contemporary artists to highlight the region’s cultural depth.

Practical tips for visiting

• Check opening times: museums and festival venues may change schedules for holidays and weekends; always verify on official sites.
• Book tickets in advance: online booking is recommended for popular shows and site-specific commissions, especially on busy dates.
• Accessibility: check for disabled access, lifts and guided-visit options; many museums provide multimedia supports.
• Visiting time: allow at least 1.5–2 hours for major exhibitions; for multi-venue festivals, plan half a day or more.
• Transport: prefer public transport or advised parking; some exhibitions coordinate visits between nearby venues.

These picks span different languages and formats — from focused photography festivals to comprehensive historical exhibitions. For up-to-date details on tickets, opening hours and related events, consult the official pages of the hosting institutions.