Piacenza's Contemporary Art Scene: An Itinerary

Piacenza, known as the 'Primogenita d'Italia' for its 1848 vote to join the nascent Kingdom of Italy, now boasts a vibrant contemporary art scene. The city hosts XNL, a contemporary documentation center opened in 2020 in a restored Enel building, featuring temporary exhibitions and the annual XNL Aperto program. The Galleria Ricci Oddi, with a new president Jacopo Veneziani, showcases Italian art from 1830-1930 and recovered Klimt's 'Ritratto di signora' in 2019. Spazio Luzzati, inaugurated in 2019, is an interactive theater space in a former printing plant, directed by Diego Maj with creations by Lele Luzzati. Rathaus, a creative hub in a former stationery shop, was launched by five international women. The Museo della Poesia, Europe's first poetry museum, opened in 2014 in a deconsecrated church. Culinary spots like Bitter, Volumnia (with chef Luigi Taglienti), and Chiere (by Stefano Chieregato) complement the cultural offerings.