Fondazione Tito Balestra: A Poet's Collection in Longiano Castle

The Fondazione Tito Balestra in Longiano, Emilia-Romagna, preserves over 2,000 artworks collected by poet Tito Balestra (1923-1976). Born in Longiano in 1923, Balestra moved to Rome in 1946, where he engaged with a vibrant cultural scene as a poet and observer. His collection, which includes 1,800 works by Mino Maccari, was kept intact through the efforts of family, friends like Vanni Scheiwiller and Amelio Roccamonte, and institutional support. The foundation was established after his death, with the first exhibition curated by Peppino Appella in 1982. In 1991, a selection of 400 works was presented at the inauguration of the Castello Malatestiano, curated by director Flaminio Balestra. The collection's general catalogue, edited by Appella and published by Allemandi, details each work with philological precision. Over time, donations added works by artists such as Assadour, Enrico Baj, Pericle Fazzini, Antonio Roccamonte, Leonardo Sinisgalli, and Guido Strazza. The foundation also houses a library and archive of correspondence and manuscripts, offering insight into 20th-century Italian art history.