The Pietraia dei Poeti Museum stands on top of a hill overlooking San Benedetto del Tronto, a few kilometers from the city. In particular, it is a museum of contemporary art open-air atmosphere, immersed in the uncontaminated natural landscapeIt's a rocky area, scorched by the summer sun and often windy. Furthermore, it's part of the land owned by the artist from San Benedetto. Marcello Sgattoni who lives there and also carries out agricultural activities. Specifically, Pietraia is a uncontaminated strip of land about two hundred meters long, used in the past as a vineyard, of which some wild vines remain running along the fence.
Poetry at the Pietraia Museum of Poets
More than a museum, the Pietraia dei Poeti could be defined as a magical place where nature merges with the artistic work of man defined by the sculptor himself as “made of pain and suffering, without which nothing in the world would be possibleWorth mentioning in the Pietraia dei Poeti Museum is a poem that the sculptor Marcello Sgattoni dedicated to his exhibited works: “When my 63 kilos return to the earth, don't look for me behind that marble slab. My spirit will be elsewhere: you'll find me among the stubble thirsting for rain or on these clods of earth waiting for a flower...".
Furthermore, Marcello Sgattoni has restored an old house in Piazza Bice Piacentini, in the ancient San Benedetto, making it the home of some of his creatures: the House of the Wind. There are some sculptures housed there whose outdoor presence would have put their resistance and durability to the test, causing their inevitable deterioration. Another famous work by the master in the coastal city is also worth mentioning: the monument to General Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa.
How it was born
Many years ago the artist he began to arrange many of his creations on this surface, some even monumental. In particular, their location has enhanced the surrounding environment also because they are made of so-called poor materials derived from the territory itself, such as wooden logs, stones, earth and rocks. Also broken glassesFrom there, the idea of making that expanse of land a permanent exhibition space for his works slowly blossomed.
Thus began the hard work of the Maestro and numerous volunteers, who were happily involved in setting up the museum. A route from which it is possible to admire the artist's works where each work has a story to tell. Like his friendship with the poet Pier Paolo Pasolini who stayed in San Benedetto for a long period before his death.
The Pietraia Museum of Poets without barriers
And in August 2006, the Pietrai dei Poeti Museum was inaugurated as a museum accessible and usable by everyone, including those with disabilities. Specifically, the itinerary is also accessible to blind or visually impaired people thanks to rope or wooden guides on the ground and descriptions in Braille or via an Mp3 player provided by the organizers, where they can listen to descriptions of the works. Therefore, of the approximately fifty works on display, fifteen will be accessible to visitors with disabilities. For everyone else, all they need is a latest-generation smartphone, and as they approach a sculpture, the information about the work itself will appear, as it is part of the Museum. covered by the Wi-Fi system.
The Pietraia dei Poeti Foundation
In December 2006 the Pietraia dei Poets Foundation, whose aim is above all to support the work of Marcello Sgattoni, to maintain it and to spread knowledge of it. Furthermore, the Foundation aims to promote emerging and non-emerging artists, especially local ones, through the organization of events, exhibitions, concerts, theatrical performances. In fact, the Museum is also place of cultural meetings on various topics, primarily art, such as painting, sculpture, but also photography. Thus, a communicative journey open to cross-fertilization with other forms of art.
Thanks for the cover image: regione.marche.it
