ASTRO Museum-Exhibition on Ayrton Senna Opens in Siculiana, Sicily

The ASTRO (Ayrton Senna Testimonianze e Racconto delle Origini) museum-exhibition has opened in Siculiana, Sicily, tracing the family roots of Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna back to his great-grandmother Giovanna Magro. Born on July 8, 1876, in Siculiana, Magro emigrated to Brazil at age 18 aboard the steamship "Mateo Bruzzo," landing in Espírito Santo. She married Luigi Sena, whose name was misspelled as Luiz Senna, leading to the Senna surname. The research, initiated by local journalists and later expanded by Sicilian journalists Anna Restivo and Giacinto Pipitone, uncovered Magro's birth record in a 1876 municipal register. The exhibition is housed in the restored 17th-century Torre dell'Orologio, designed by architects Francesco Ferla and Salvatore Nigrelli. It features Senna memorabilia including his race suit, helmet, artistic reproductions of his Lotus 1985 and McLaren 1988 cars, and unpublished photographs by Marco Isola from 1992-1994. The installation integrates digital technologies such as virtual reality, mixed reality, and augmented reality, with 3D visors for viewing car components and interactive territorial views. ASTRO is the first completed project for Agrigento's 2025 Italian Capital of Culture program, part of the "Turismo delle radici" initiative by the Municipality of Siculiana. The exhibition also highlights the broader story of Italian emigration, as Magro's journey reflects that of many peasants seeking new opportunities.