Opera Laboratori Acquires Palazzo delle Papesse in Siena for Contemporary Art Center
Opera Laboratori, an Italian organization that oversees 45 museums in Florence, Siena, and Rome, has acquired the Palazzo delle Papesse in Siena, a 15th-century building, for around €5 million. Formerly owned by Banca d'Italia, the site will be transformed into a contemporary art hub featuring large exhibitions, events, educational programs, a bookstore, and a bistrot. The inaugural exhibition will showcase Argentine artist Julio Le Parc in September 2024. Additionally, early 2025 will see a tribute to comic artist Hugo Pratt, marking the 20th anniversary of his first exhibition in Siena. CEO Beppe Costa emphasized the palace's ties to cultural institutions, while local opinions on the group's impact in Siena vary.
Key facts
- Opera Laboratori purchased Palazzo delle Papesse for €5 million.
- The palace was previously owned by Banca d'Italia.
- It will become a contemporary art center with exhibitions, events, educational activities, a bookshop, and a bistrot.
- First exhibition: Julio Le Parc in September 2024, in collaboration with Galleria Continua.
- Second exhibition: Hugo Pratt in early 2025, curated by Patrizia Zanotti and Patrick Amsellem.
- The palace was built in the 15th century by Bernardo Rossellino.
- It had been inactive for 12 years before a controversial 2020 Dalí exhibition.
- Opera Laboratori also acquired a visitor center near Piazza del Campo and management of Palazzo Fava in Bologna.
Entities
Artists
- Julio Le Parc
- Hugo Pratt
- Salvador Dalí
- Sergio Risaliti
- Marco Pierini
- Bernardo Rossellino
- Galileo Galilei
- Caterina Piccolomini
- Laudomia Piccolomini
Institutions
- Opera Laboratori
- Banca d'Italia
- Galleria Continua
- Fondaciò Gala-Dalí
- Palazzo Fava
- Artribune
Locations
- Siena
- Italy
- Florence
- Rome
- Mendoza
- Rimini
- Pully
- San Gimignano
- Bologna
- Piazza del Campo
- Duomo di Siena