Contemporary art tour in Catanzaro: what to see

You write Mudiac and you read "Diffuse Museum of Contemporary Art in Catanzaro" an innovative reality among the things to do in Catanzaro.

Contemporary art lovers should definitely include Mudiac in their list of unmissable experiences in the city, even in the company of their children: it is the first "en plein air" art itinerary in Catanzaro dedicated to contemporary art and local and national street art performers.

Let's take a closer look at the project, the stages of the route, and the gems not to be missed! 

Mudiac - Diffuse Museum of Contemporary Art in Catanzaro

Wondering what to see in Catanzaro besides the old town and the more conventional cultural venues?

If you love contemporary art and are a fan of open-air museums, the Mudiac - Diffuse Museum of Contemporary Art in Catanzaro is the place for you.

An innovative project in the city, already rewarded by the Ministry of Culture for its inclusive and multidisciplinary character, which enhances the urban space of the city of Catanzaro by bringing together a series of contemporary art works, both existing and in progress, with the aim of making them fully accessible to all citizens and enthusiasts of the genre.

How to visit Mudiac? Easy!

"Mudiac has no doors or fences," say the project's creators, "it lives in the streets and grows thanks to the actions of people, carrying out the mission (or value) that sees art as a resource that rehabilitates places" and empowers those who inhabit them. 

After all, this is the substantial difference between a traditional museum and a diffuse museum such as the Mudiac, which is articulated in an exhibition itinerary in a free area, albeit well identified, that can be used free of charge and without time limits.

‍Good to know that among the things to do in Catanzaro there is also this extraordinary urban trek that combines colours, forms, materials, ideas and "open yards" of contemporary experimentation and contamination between artists of different languages, who also come from different realities of the local, national and international scene.

What are the stages of Mudiac and where are the works located in the city?

One of the watchwords of the Mudiac project is "inclusiveness", which is why the itinerary covers the entire city area without excluding any place: from the old town centre to the suburbs, from the Catanzaro Lido marina to the symbolic places of everyday life, including workshops and working-class neighbourhoods.

The macro-areas of the diffuse museum are 4:

• Old Town: fusion of history and contemporaneity
• New City: Catanzaro in its everyday life
• Linear City: from the top to the slopes of the 3 hills
• Towards the Sea: abstractionism in the working-class neighbourhoods

Each of the 4 macro-areas of the Mudiac route hosts surprising works of art, a total of 34 places to visit that bear the signatures of important street artists.

Discover them all on the dedicated website and organise a day's visit to Mudiac in Catanzaro according to your preferences.

Contemporary things to see in Catanzaro

Scalin'Arte

What to see in Catanzaro that is contemporary besides the Mudiac route?

A treat not to be missed are certainly the city's stairways involved in the colourful "Scalin'Arte" project. A perfect idea for the urban characteristics of Catanzaro, a steep city by definition, clinging to hills and criss-crossed by stairs, climbs and descents.

So, why not make Catanzaro's stairs into real works of art? This was the question posed by artist Massimo Sirelli, who inaugurated the project with the work "The city in symbols", a large multicoloured carpet covering the connecting staircase between Via Piave and Via Milano. 

A beautiful sight! The first of a long series of "Scalin'Arte" that will certainly fill other places in the city with colour and symbols.

International Sculpture Park

Among the things to do in Catanzaro, fans of contemporary art and nature should definitely visit the Mediterranean Biodiversity Park, which houses the International Sculpture Park: the perfect place to discover some of the most beautiful installations of international contemporary art (from Jan Fabre to Staccioli, just to mention two big names).

Mimmo Rotella House of Memory

Another unmissable contemporary art venue in Catanzaro is the Mimmo Rotella House of Memory, curated by the foundation of the same name, which is responsible for making the work of the great Catanzaro artist accessible and enhancing it.

The house-museum is located in Vico dell'Onda 1, where the artist grew up and lived with his mother, and contains numerous testimonies of his artistic and family life: décollages and works from the ‘Mimmo Rotella’ Foundation that the artist created using different techniques during his prolific career, as well as a specialised library on his activity and the history of contemporary arts.    

Noteworthy is the 20th century section in the permanent collections of the MARCA - Catanzaro Museum of the Arts, which includes other works from the ‘Mimmo Rotella’ Foundation.

Mendini Mosaic

What to see in Catanzaro to conclude the contemporary art tour? Obviously the longest mosaic in the world!

With its record-breaking numbers, no less than 5 million pieces and 1,800 metres in length for a total surface area of about 20,000 square metres, the mosaic signed by Atelier Mendini has rightfully entered the Guinness Book of Records.

The promenade in the Catanzaro Lido seafront district flaunts this very long and brightly coloured work of art, made of shiny vitreous material that embellishes the ‘Corace-Fiumarella’ stretch of the promenade and highlights the beach access points.