Mega Galmata – International Symposium on Monumental Sculpture

Hotel Villaggio Club Altalia · Brancaleone, Costa Viola, Calabria

27 September 2026

From 27 September to 2 October 2026, as part of Mega Galmata – International Symposium on Monumental Sculpture, the Hotel Villaggio Club Altalia in Brancaleone will host the ‘Encounters with Calabrian Sculptors’. These events offer the public the opportunity to gain an insight into the world of sculpture through the artists’ own accounts. Each session will feature a presentation of the artists’ works and their creative journey, followed by a Q&A session. The Calabrian sculptors will also share their experiences with their foreign colleagues attending the Symposium, fostering a dialogue between different techniques, artistic visions and sensibilities.

An open-air sculpture symposium on the Costa dei Gelsomini

From 26 September to 3 October 2026, four municipalities in the Locride area host Mega Galmata, the International Symposium on Monumental Sculpture: Brancaleone, the lead municipality, together with Bova, Bruzzano Zeffirio and Sant'Agata del Bianco. For a week, seven sculptors from different countries work live on monumental pieces, in an open-air workshop the public can follow up close, from choosing the block of stone to the finished sculpture.

Meetings with Calabrian sculptors at Hotel Altalia

As part of the Symposium, the Hotel Villaggio Club Altalia in Brancaleone hosts meetings with Calabrian sculptors, giving the public a chance to get close to the sculptor's craft through the artists' own accounts. Each session includes a presentation of the artist's work and creative path, followed by an open Q&A with the audience: Calabrian sculptors also share their experience with the international colleagues attending the Symposium, creating a dialogue between different techniques, visions and sensibilities.

Who organises it: the Palazzo Spinelli Institute

The Symposium is promoted by the Istituto per l'Arte e il Restauro "Palazzo Spinelli" of Florence, in partnership with the Hotel Villaggio Club Altalia as the main local partner. The project is supported by the PAC Calabria 2014/2020 fund with a €50,000 allocation, confirming public investment in the cultural development of the Grecanic area and the Locride through contemporary art.

Activities for schools

Alongside the programme for adult visitors, Mega Galmata offers educational activities for schools: guided visits to the sculpture worksites to watch the artists at work up close, plus ceramic modelling and jewellery sculpture workshops. It's a way of bringing local students closer to artistic techniques through direct experience, not just observation.

Getting there and information

Activities take place mainly at the Hotel Villaggio Club Altalia, in Contrada Altalia 10, Brancaleone, on the Ionian coast of the province of Reggio Calabria. For information, organisers can be reached at info@megagalmata.it. Visitors exploring the Locride for the occasion can browse local businesses and services and holiday rentals in Calabria on the portal.

Frequently asked questions

When does Mega Galmata 2026 take place?

From 26 September to 3 October 2026, across Brancaleone, Bova, Bruzzano Zeffirio and Sant'Agata del Bianco.

What do the sculptors do during the Symposium?

Seven international sculptors create monumental works live, in a worksite open to the public.

Where are the meetings with Calabrian sculptors held?

At the Hotel Villaggio Club Altalia, Contrada Altalia 10, Brancaleone.

Who organises the event?

The Istituto per l'Arte e il Restauro "Palazzo Spinelli" of Florence, with the Hotel Villaggio Club Altalia as main partner, as part of the PAC Calabria 2014/2020 fund.

Are there activities for schools?

Yes: guided visits to the sculpture worksites, plus ceramic modelling and jewellery sculpture workshops.

How can I get information?

By emailing info@megagalmata.it.

Related events and news

All Costa Viola events