ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

M'illumino di meno: Italian museums go dark for energy-saving campaign

cultural-heritage · 2026-05-05

The 14th edition of M'illumino di meno, an energy-saving campaign launched by Caterpillar Radio2 in 2005, takes place on February 23, 2018, with a focus on walking and reducing light pollution. Multiple Italian cultural institutions participate. At MAXXI in Rome, visitors with public transport tickets get reduced entry (€8), and lights in the piazza and lobby dim from 18:00. The exhibition 'Blackout. Allora & Calzadilla' uses solar-powered technology. The Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria in Perugia offers guided tours by torchlight through Caravaggesque paintings at 17:45 and 18:30. Ca' Foscari and Iuav universities in Venice organize a 3 km walk on February 22, turning off facade lights at each stop. La Piccionaia theater in Vicenza presents 'Silent Fireflies,' a wireless headphone walking tour exploring light, starting from Teatro Astra. Palazzo Abatellis in Palermo offers a guided visit at 10:30 using only natural daylight in Carlo Scarpa's wing, originally designed without artificial lighting.

Key facts

  • M'illumino di meno is an energy-saving campaign launched by Caterpillar Radio2 in 2005.
  • The 14th edition occurs on February 23, 2018.
  • This year's theme is walking and changing pace to save the Earth.
  • MAXXI in Rome offers reduced entry (€8) for public transport ticket holders and dims lights from 18:00.
  • The exhibition 'Blackout. Allora & Calzadilla' at MAXXI uses solar energy.
  • Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria offers torchlight tours of Caravaggesque paintings at 17:45 and 18:30.
  • Ca' Foscari and Iuav universities in Venice hold a 3 km walk on February 22, turning off lights at each venue.
  • La Piccionaia theater in Vicenza presents 'Silent Fireflies,' a wireless headphone walking tour exploring light.
  • Palazzo Abatellis in Palermo offers a guided visit at 10:30 using only natural daylight in Carlo Scarpa's wing.
  • Carlo Scarpa designed Palazzo Abatellis's lighting to rely on natural daylight, with artificial lamps never installed.

Entities

Artists

  • Allora & Calzadilla
  • Carlo Scarpa
  • Carlo Presotto
  • Paola Rossi
  • Sophia Los
  • Giovanni Traverso

Institutions

  • Caterpillar Radio2
  • MAXXI
  • Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria
  • Università Ca' Foscari
  • Università Iuav
  • La Piccionaia
  • Teatro Astra
  • Palazzo Abatellis
  • Vetrerie Venini
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Rome
  • Italy
  • Perugia
  • Venice
  • Vicenza
  • Palermo
  • Sicily
  • Via Guido Reni 4A, Rome
  • Corso Pietro Vannucci 19, Perugia
  • Dorsoduro 3246, Venice
  • S. Croce 191, Venice
  • Contrà Barche 55, Vicenza
  • via Alloro 4, Palermo

Sources