Procida’s former prison transformed into memory and art space

Palazzo d’Avalos, the former Bourbon prison on Procida island, has reopened its ground floor as a museum and exhibition space under the project “Ecosistema Palazzo d’Avalos”. Directed by Marco Lauro and Valentina Schiano Lomoriello, supported by Fondazione CDP and promoted by Cooperativa Immaginaria, the project reconstructs common rooms and the doctor’s office, incorporating unpublished documents from Poggioreale prison. The exhibition “Non ho aspettato altro che il giorno pieno”, curated by Alberta Romano with Aurora Riviezzo, displays artifacts made by inmates, photographs, registers, and everyday objects. The display was designed by studio AIDNA. It includes documentary shots by Mimmo Jodice from the 1980s and a video room showing Domenico Palma’s documentary “Terra Murata”. The project builds on initiatives from Procida Italian Capital of Culture 2022, such as “Fili d’ombra – Fili di luce” and “Procida Time Machine”. Mayor Dino Ambrosino emphasized the cultural role of the palace.