- The first work of the Murales project was unveiled at the Stazione Venezia construction site.
- The project features six installations by various international artists.
- Each artwork stands 10 meters tall and covers a surface area of 640 square meters.
- The first work, "Constellations of Rome," is by artist Pietro Ruffo.
- The project is supported by the Webuild Group, which is overseeing the archaeological station in Piazza Venezia.
Can a city square transform into an open air museum, and the construction site of a subway turn into a grand contemporary art installation? This is the vision for Piazza Venezia, one of the most iconic locations in Rome—a crossroads of over a thousand years of history—now serving as the stage for an ambitious urban regeneration project.
Since December 16, it has been possible to admire the first installation of Murales, a contemporary art project that will bring six international artists to imagine, create, and exhibit their works on the massive silos of the construction site at Stazione Venezia, the central hub of Rome’s Metro C Line.
The project is promoted by the consortium of companies building Line C, led by Webuild and Vianini Lavori, under the patronage of the Municipality of Rome and in collaboration with the relevant Superintendencies. The title Murales, which evokes an artistic tradition rooted in the origins of Western art, reflects the ambition of an initiative that, every four months until 2026, will introduce a new work of art to the heart of Rome, transforming the large construction site into a stage for contemporary art. The six participating artists have been selected by a Scientific Committee composed of representatives from some of Rome’s leading cultural institutions: the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Borghese Gallery, MAXXI, and Palazzo delle Esposizioni.
Constellations of Piazza Venezia in Rome: The Eternal City Between Past and Future
The ten gigantic silos, essential to the operation of the hydrofraise digging at Piazza Venezia, have been turned into “a single immense work of art” measuring 10 meters in height, 64 meters in length, and covering a surface of 640 square meters. The event took place on December 16 with the unveiling of Constellations of Rome, the first of the six installations in the project: a map of ancient Rome suspended among stars and constellations—a fresco that recalls the vastness of ancient knowledge and its connection to modern Rome. Constellations of Rome conveys this vision and bears the signature of Pietro Ruffo, an artist currently exhibiting L’ultimo meraviglioso minuto at Palazzo Esposizioni in Rome. His work has been showcased in prestigious museums and institutions worldwide, including the Venice Biennale, the Vatican Museums, MAXXI, and the Zhejiang Art Museum (ZAM) in Hangzhou, China. “The project I envisioned,” explains Ruffo, “represents a terrestrial map of imperial Rome alongside a celestial map that interacts, offering a concrete image of what Rome looked like two thousand years ago while also presenting an abstract thought linked to astronomy.”
Numerous technicians, workers, and engineers collaborated with the artist for the installation of the artwork. The first step involved constructing steel shells around the silos, onto which Ruffo’s work was placed. These construction efforts were carried out almost entirely at night to minimize disruption to the city. Following this, large sheets that make up the installation were positioned using special cranes capable of reaching the silos’ 10-meter height. After nearly a month of work, the installation was completed and handed over to the city and the thousands of people who pass through Piazza Venezia daily.
Works of Art Paying Homage to a Great Infrastructure
The Murales project seeks to create a profound connection between Rome and one of its most significant infrastructures, Metro C Line, which runs from the suburban area of Pantano to the historic center, traversing it. The line is currently operational with 22 completed stations and 19 kilometers in use, while two new stations (Colosseo-Fori Imperiali and Porta Metronia) will be completed next year.
Stazione Venezia is poised to become the symbol of this grand undertaking due to its complexity, scale, and uniqueness. It will be a true “archaeo-station” with eight underground levels serving as a junction for nearby museum complexes. To achieve this, the largest archaeological excavation in Europe will be carried out, restoring ancient artifacts lying beneath the square for centuries to their former glory. Visitors will access these treasures via a wide pedestrian path connecting Palazzo Venezia, the Adriano Temple, and the Vittoriano monument.
