The Civic Gallery “Francesco Podesti” has recently reopened to the public with a strong turnout and, throughout the holiday period, continues its resident-friendly promotion for the citizens of Ancona. By purchasing a single reduced ticket for €5, visitors can enter the museum free of charge until December 31, 2026.
The Gallery has also inaugurated its exhibition program with Carlo Maratti and the Engraving, on view until March 15, 2026. Curated by Simonetta Prosperi Valenti Rodinò and Stefano Papetti, among the most authoritative scholars of Roman Baroque, the exhibition explores the relationship between painting, engraving, and reproduction in Carlo Maratti’s work. The exhibition is part of the official program of the National Committee for the Celebrations of the IV Centenary of the artist’s birth, established by the Ministry of Culture, with support from the Marche Region and the municipalities of Ancona, Camerano, and Ascoli Piceno, and under the patronage of the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, of which Maratti was Prince.
Completing the Gallery’s exhibition program is Umberto Grati – Spin Off, dedicated to the well-known Ancona-born illustrator and painter who recently passed away, on display until May 4, 2025. In the museum’s atmospheric underground rooms, a selection of some of the artist’s most significant international works is presented, alongside his well-known collaborations as an illustrator for Il Sole 24 Ore, La Stampa, and La Settimana Enigmistica.
Finally, a series of themed guided tours extending beyond the museum’s closing hours are planned. The full schedule is as follows: Saturday, December 27 and Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 6:00 PM, a complete tour of the Gallery’s collection; Sunday, December 28, Sunday, January 11, and Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 6:00 PM, Carlo Maratti and the Engraving; Sunday, January 4 and Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 6:00 PM, The Contemporary Art Section; Saturday, January 1, 2026, at 6:00 PM, The Altarpieces; Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 6:00 PM, Portraiture in the Gallery; Saturday, January 3 and 17, 2026, and Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 6:00 PM, “Umberto Grati – the Sensitive Line” (guided tour cost: admission ticket + €6).
Meanwhile, at Mole Vanvitelliana, the exhibition Erratica is running until February 28, 2026. Dedicated to the Premio Marche, it marks its return to Ancona after more than twenty years. The show traces a path from the early years to the end of the 1990s, focusing on the twenty-five years the Prize took place away from the city and including a section dedicated to artists who represent today’s contemporary art landscape.
During the Christmas period, on Saturday, December 27 at 4:00 PM, AUTORITRATTO DI PAROLE, a family workshop for youths aged 10 to 13 (workshop cost €6), is scheduled. At 5:00 PM, there will be a meeting with artist Edoardo Piermattei at Mole’s literary café, followed by a visit to the exhibition. Throughout the exhibition period, guided tours are also planned every Saturday afternoon, as well as visits by appointment (guided tour cost €10).
The Christmas calendar confirms the Municipality of Ancona’s commitment to promoting culture as a central element of city life, offering opportunities for people of all ages—families, children, youths, adults, and tourists—to engage during the festive season.
Photo credits: The Civic Gallery Francesco Podesti
Leave a Reply