Fellini Museum Opens in Rimini with Multisite Exhibition and Urban Renewal

The Fellini Museum opened on August 19, 2021, in Rimini, Italy, celebrating filmmaker Federico Fellini. The museum is a diffuse cultural hub spanning Castel Sismondo, Piazza Malatesta, and the Cinema Fulgor. The opening weekend featured a show and free guided tours that sold out. The project, funded with over €13 million from the Ministry of Culture, includes immersive multimedia exhibits curated by Marco Bertozzi and Anna Villari, designed by Lumiére & Co and Studio Azzurro. The museum aims to be a magical space of artistic synthesis, not a mere collection of memorabilia, according to Mayor Sergio Gnassi. It is part of a broader urban renewal that includes the restored Teatro Galli and PART contemporary art center. The museum will be presented at the Venice Film Festival on August 31, 2021. Exhibits include a swing room, a tribute to Giulietta Masina, music by Nino Rota, and a recreation of Fellini's library. Piazza Malatesta has been transformed into a pedestrian zone with gardens, water features, and a circular bench inspired by 8½. The museum faced criticism from art historian Tomaso Montanari but was defended by the mayor. The project also includes a documentation center at Cinema Fulgor and an urban forest dedicated to Tonino Guerra.