Pennellate di memoria: Giuseppe Cricrì's watercolours in Palmi

Via Augimeri · Palmi, Costa Viola, Calabria

10 August 2026 – 11 August 2026

On 10 and 11 August 2026, from 9 pm to midnight, via Augimeri in Palmi hosts «Pennellate di memoria», an exhibition of watercolours by Giuseppe Cricrì curated by the Pro Loco APS Amici di GISA association of Palmi. Two evenings of open-air exhibition, late in the day, in the middle of the Palmi August: you walk in as you stroll, at the hour when the town is out of doors. The title already states the intention of the collection — the memory of the place — and the watercolours reproduced on the poster confirm it: coastal and countryside landscapes, scenes of communal life and the figure of a Giant, one of the two large papier-mâché statues that in Palmi dance to the rhythm of drums and open the Varia, a UNESCO heritage event. It is the quietest appointment in a programme that in the same hours offers the Stroncatura Festival and an open-air concert, and that at the end of the month culminates with the Varia on 30 August.

Two evenings in via Augimeri, from 9 pm to midnight

«Pennellate di memoria» is the exhibition of watercolours by Giuseppe Cricrì taking place on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 August 2026 in via Augimeri, in Palmi. The hours are those given on the poster: from 9 pm to midnight, on both evenings.

It is a choice that says a lot about the format. Not an afternoon opening in a closed hall, but two long evenings at the time when, in August, Palmi is out on the street: you walk in as you pass, stay as long as you like, and leave. The exhibition is curated by the Pro Loco APS Amici di GISA association of Palmi, and the poster carries the municipal coat of arms alongside the logo of the Pro Loco Italiane of Calabria.

What you see: the memory of Palmi in watercolour

The title of the exhibition states its theme: memory. The watercolours reproduced on the poster give an idea of what to expect — coastal landscapes, with the sea and the headland; glimpses of countryside and houses among the trees; scenes of communal life with groups of people; and the figure of a Giant, recognisable by its plumed turban, its earring and its damask robe.

Watercolour is a technique suited to this kind of storytelling: quick, transparent, allowing no corrections. It is the right way to fix a memory rather than to document a place, and it explains why a collection like this works on an August evening, in front of an audience that recognises those places and those scenes.

The poster does not list the titles of the individual works or the total number of pieces on show.

The Giants, who open the Varia in Palmi

The figure appearing on the poster belongs to one of the city's strongest traditions. The Giants of Palmi are two: Mata, the white woman, and Grifone, the Moorish warrior. They are large papier-mâché figures, carried on shoulders or pulled, that dance to the rhythm of drums through the streets and squares.

The legend that accompanies them in Calabria tells of a young queen from Messina and a Moorish warrior who landed on the coast: after an initial clash love is born, Grifone abducts Mata and she ends up returning his feelings. The adoption of the Giants in Palmi goes back to ancient times and is also linked to the memory of the arrival in the city of Count Roger the Norman, from where he moved his army towards the conquest of Sicily. The Giants danced today through the streets of Palmi were made about a century ago by the craftsman Virgilio Francesco Cicala.

In Palmi the Giants have a precise task: they open the Varia, the festival recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage, which in 2026 falls on 30 August. Finding a Giant among the watercolours of an exhibition about memory, then, is not a decorative choice.

Who organises it: the Pro Loco Amici di Gisa

The Pro Loco APS «Gli Amici di Gisa» is a social promotion association based in Palmi. Like Pro Loco associations in general, it works on promoting the local area and on cultural initiatives, but its range is wider: in July 2026 it worked with Plastic Free and other local groups on a day of cleaning the beach and seabed at the Marinella of Palmi.

It is a detail that helps frame the exhibition: this is not the isolated initiative of a gallery, but one piece of the work of an association that looks after the place where it lives, from the sea to collective memory.

What else is happening in Palmi in those days

10 and 11 August fall in the middle of the city's summer programme. On 10 August itself Palmi also offers the Stroncatura Festival, devoted to the dark, rough pasta born in the plain as a poor man's dish and today listed by Slow Food, and the Frankie e Canthina Band concert.

That is an advantage, not competition: the exhibition stays open until midnight, so you can drop in before or after. The full programme for the month is on the Agosto Palmese 2026 page, which gathers concerts, food festivals and events through to the White Night on 29 August and the Varia on the 30th.

Practical information

The poster lists no tickets, advance sales or entry prices: the exhibition is held in via Augimeri, within the urban fabric of Palmi, and is open on the two evenings from 9 pm to midnight.

Palmi is reached by car from its own exit on the A2 motorway and is served by a railway station on the Tyrrhenian line. In August the centre is very busy in the evening: it is worth parking outside the central area and walking.

For dinner before the exhibition you can see where to eat in Palmi and the other businesses in the city. If you are staying a few days on the Costa Viola there are holiday homes in the area, and other events are in the events section.

Frequently asked questions

When can «Pennellate di memoria» be visited?

Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 August 2026, from 9 pm to midnight on both evenings, in via Augimeri in Palmi, province of Reggio Calabria.

What is on display?

Watercolours by Giuseppe Cricrì. The title of the exhibition indicates the theme of the collection, memory; the watercolours reproduced on the poster show coastal and countryside landscapes, scenes of communal life and the figure of a Giant. The poster does not list the titles of the individual works.

Do I need a ticket?

The poster lists no prices, advance sales or box office. The exhibition takes place in via Augimeri, within the urban fabric of the city.

Who organises the exhibition?

The Pro Loco APS Amici di GISA association of Palmi. The poster also carries the municipal coat of arms and the logo of the Pro Loco Italiane of Calabria.

Who are the Giants of Palmi?

Mata, the white woman, and Grifone, the Moorish warrior: two large papier-mâché figures carried on shoulders or pulled, dancing to the rhythm of drums through the city streets. In Palmi they open the Varia, recognised by UNESCO. The ones danced today were made about a century ago by the craftsman Virgilio Francesco Cicala.

Are there other events in Palmi on 10 August?

Yes: the Stroncatura Festival and the Frankie e Canthina Band concert. Since the exhibition stays open until midnight, they can be combined in the same evening.

How do I get to Palmi?

By car from the Palmi exit on the A2 motorway, or by train, with a station on the Tyrrhenian line. In August the evenings are crowded: it is worth parking outside the centre and walking.

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