Seeing Democracy

Museo Archeologico Lametino · Lamezia Terme, Costa Viola, Calabria

16 June 2026 – 22 November 2026

From 16 June to 22 November 2026, the Lametino Archaeological Museum and the Cloister of the San Domenico Complex in Lamezia Terme will host “Seeing Democracy. The Legacy of Antiquity: From Classical Artefacts to Contemporary Creations”, a temporary exhibition dedicated to the value of civic participation. The exhibition has been organised to mark the 80th anniversary of the Constituent Assembly and forms part of the fifteenth edition of Trame, the festival of books on the mafia, scheduled for 16 to 21 June 2026 and dedicated to the theme ‘Land and Freedom’. During the festival, admission to the exhibition will be free.

Seeing Democracy at the Lametino Archaeological Museum

From 16 June to 22 November 2026 the Lametino Archaeological Museum and the Cloister of the San Domenico Complex in Lamezia Terme host Seeing Democracy. The Legacy of Antiquity: from Classical Artefacts to Contemporary Creations, a temporary exhibition dedicated to the value of civic participation. It is organised to mark the 80th anniversary of the Constituent Assembly and forms part of the fifteenth edition of Trame, the festival of books on the mafia, scheduled for 16 to 21 June 2026 on the theme Land and Freedom. During the festival days admission to the exhibition is free.

The token of Anthropiskos and Terina

At the heart of the exhibition is the electoral token of Anthropiskos, a citizen of the ancient Magna Graecian polis of Terina. Discovered in 2016 at Iardini di Renda, in Sant'Eufemia Vetere, this small bronze sphere was used in the process of drawing lots for public office. A tiny artefact, yet one of great symbolic power, which shows how ancient the idea of participation in community life is and connects Magna Graecia directly to today's questions about democracy.

Alfabeto Civico by Massimo Sirelli

From the museum galleries the exhibition extends to the Cloister of San Domenico with Alfabeto Civico, a site-specific installation curated by Massimo Sirelli. The work translates the themes of democracy, citizenship and memory into a contemporary, immediate and pop visual language, turning the cloister into a space for reflection between the ancient and the present. The exhibition thus builds a dialogue between Magna Graecia, the democratic choices of the twentieth century and today's active citizenship, with archaeology and contemporary art as tools for examining our own times.

An exhibition within the Trame Festival

Seeing Democracy accompanies the 15th edition of the Trame Festival, dedicated to the theme Land and Freedom and held in Lamezia Terme from 16 to 21 June 2026. Six days of talks, debates and events on legality, social justice, rights and memory frame a journey that evokes values such as freedom, equality and the protection of rights. The exhibition then continues until 22 November 2026. For other cultural events you can browse other events in Calabria.

Frequently asked questions

When can the exhibition be visited?

From 16 June to 22 November 2026, in Lamezia Terme.

Where is it held?

At the Lametino Archaeological Museum and in the Cloister of the San Domenico Complex, in Lamezia Terme.

Is admission free?

During the Trame Festival days, from 16 to 21 June 2026, admission to the exhibition is free.

What is the token of Anthropiskos?

A small bronze sphere from the ancient polis of Terina, used for drawing lots for public office, discovered in 2016 in Sant'Eufemia Vetere.

What is Alfabeto Civico?

A site-specific installation by Massimo Sirelli in the Cloister of San Domenico, translating democracy, citizenship and memory into a pop visual language.

Why is the exhibition linked to the Trame Festival?

It is created for the 80th anniversary of the Constituent Assembly and accompanies the 15th edition of Trame, dedicated to the theme Land and Freedom.

Related events and news

All Costa Viola events