Riace murals: messages to the world of solidarity and peace
A treasure hunt through the streets of Riace Marina and Riace Superiore, the land of welcome and bronzes
Where
The souls of Riace
Riace, a small village in Calabria overlooking the Ionian Sea, has chosen the language of murals to tell its identity and become a spokesperson for social change. The colorful street art works that brighten the walls of Riace's too-often abandoned houses are messages against mafias and wars, wishes for peace, and messages of welcome to the many migrants who have found a home, a job, and hope here with the Global Village project.
Treasure hunt: how many murals are there in Riace?
Three stops: Riace Marina, the old train station and Riace Superiore. Don't forget your hat and water bottle; and, if you don't have good legs, better the e-bike to get up to Riace Superiore (6 km). Here are some hints for your hunt, but we leave the pleasure of discovery to you!
Humanity has no borders: the mural of the law of the sea
Riace Marina. A mother at sea, wearing a life jacket and holding her baby. Her gaze focused on us. A broken barbed wire, the rays of a sun pointing to Riace. To say enough to the tragedies of the sea. Mural by street artist Laika, 2025
Humanity has no bordersHere and Now Murals: the murals of the Riace Bronzes.
Everyone remembers that August 16, 1972, when two of the greatest masterpieces of Greek art emerged from the waters in front of Riace: two huge warriors of extraordinary beauty and perfection, now at the Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria. The old station abandoned in 2014 celebrates with large murals this find, which opened a bridge between past and present. Murals created by street artists Andrea Buglisi, Camilla Falsini, Igor Scalisi Palminteri, 2023
Race's Bronzes, murals"Where do the clouds go?": the mural of welcome.
In front of the entrance to the "Global Village," an extraordinary social experiment in welcoming and integrating migrants (known worldwide as the "Riace Model"), a wall has become a blue sky with many small white clouds. Each cloud represents a country oppressed by war, famine or dictatorship. And each arrow points to the Global Village. Work by street artist Roberto Cirillo, Upper Riace.
Where do the clouds go? Riace, Global Village"Disarming words": the mural of peace.
Yes, that's right: Pope Francis, the pontiff who more than any of his predecessors has used the languages of young people. Even murals would have been in his wheelhouse! Here the message against violence and war is explicit: disarm, disarm, disarm. Mural created by street artist Vincenzo Franco, 2025
Disarm! Pope Francis' muralThe treasure hunt continues...
Among the sunny alleys you will also find a cycle of murals dedicated to victims of the Mafia, such as journalist Peppino Impastato: "The Colors of Memory" (2019). A mural not to be missed for its evocative power is entitled "The Warrior's Dream," a work by Peruvian Carlos Atoche dedicated to Mimmo Lucano. Other murals were painted in 2020, and they speak of freedom, dialogue, but also of the life and artisanal work of our past. Long live art that changes lives!
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The Map thanks:
PNRR a titolarità del Ministero della Cultura (MiC) M1C3 – 2.1 “Attrattività dei borghi” – Linea B – “Borghi in piazza - Spirito d’Oriente in Occidente” – Int. 2 - Digitalizzazione del territorio – CUP F49I22000220006 – CIG B693A24037
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