NEOS_VLTRA: Open-Air Art and Botanical Space Launches in Sicily
Roberto Riccio, the entrepreneur behind Galileo Global Education Italia, has introduced NEOS_VLTRA, a self-financed outdoor cultural venue located in Vittoria, Ragusa, Sicily. This initiative spans seven agricultural plots surrounding Villa Yulia, named in honor of Riccio's late mother, Giuliana, blending contemporary art, spirituality, and indigenous flora. The first exhibition, 'Beyond the Wall / Oltre il Muro,' is set to debut on September 10, 2026, showcasing site-specific creations from ten artists, including Riccio, SexsDreams (Gioele Carradengo), and others. Central to the exhibition is a massive brutalist concrete wall, reinterpreted as a symbol of peace. Riccio views this project as a tribute to his mother and a remedy for cultural disconnection, with plans for future artist residencies and collaborations.
Key facts
- NEOS_VLTRA is a new open-air cultural space in Vittoria, Ragusa, Sicily.
- Founded by Roberto Riccio, founder of Galileo Global Education Italia.
- The project is self-funded and spans seven agricultural plots around Villa Yulia.
- Villa Yulia is named after Riccio's late mother Giuliana, who died in 2019.
- Inaugural exhibition 'Beyond the Wall / Oltre il Muro' opens September 10, 2026.
- The exhibition features a monumental brutalist concrete wall reimagined as a threshold.
- Ten artists participate: Roberto Riccio, SexsDreams (Gioele Carradengo), Elisabetta Trombello, Mikel Ayad, Ezio Cinciarella, Enry Mottola, Tatjana Zonca, Marcella Occhipinti, Gianmarco Canzonieri, Mahmoud Abdelmged.
- Works are site-specific, using local materials like lava stone, red earth, olive trees, and almond trees.
- The project aims to merge contemporary art, spirituality, and native vegetation.
- Future plans include annual commissions, residencies, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Entities
Artists
- Roberto Riccio
- SexsDreams (Gioele Carradengo)
- Elisabetta Trombello
- Mikel Ayad
- Ezio Cinciarella
- Enry Mottola
- Tatjana Zonca
- Marcella Occhipinti
- Gianmarco Canzonieri
- Mahmoud Abdelmged
Institutions
- Galileo Global Education Italia
- NEOS_VLTRA
- Villa Yulia
- Artribune
Locations
- Vittoria
- Ragusa
- Sicily
- Italy