Rome exhibition marks 60 years of Italy's Autostrada del Sole

The Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GNAMC) in Rome presents 'L'alba dell'Autostrada del Sole', an exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Autostrada del Sole, Italy's iconic motorway. Opened on October 4, 1964, by Prime Minister Aldo Moro, the highway connects Milan, Rome, and Naples, featuring 113 bridges and 38 tunnels designed by engineers like Riccardo Morandi and Giorgio Macchi. Conceived in the 1950s and built in just eight years, it symbolizes Italy's post-war economic boom. Curated by Chiara Sbarigia, president of Cinecittà, the exhibition is a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the Archivio Storico Luce Cinecittà. It runs until February 28, 2025, offering a multimedia journey through historical images, documents, films, and testimonies. The show includes contemporary photography by Luca Campigotto, Silvia Camporesi, and Barbara Cannizzaro, each capturing different aspects of the motorway. The project began on May 19, 1956, overcoming major engineering challenges like crossing the Po River and the Apennines. The Bologna-Florence section, completed on December 3, 1960, reduced travel time from over six hours to one hour. The exhibition highlights the motorway's cultural impact, referenced in films by Vittorio De Sica and Carlo Nebiolo, and its role in uniting artists across Italy.