Catania, the Butterfly Gate of the patron Presti

The “Door of Butterflies”, conceived by the Sicilian patron Antonio Presti, is under construction in Catania, in the difficult Librino neighborhood. It is the largest ceramic bas-relief sculpture in the world, one and a half kilometers long. But it is above all a great project of social inclusion and sharing of beauty, shared to date by over 15 thousand people. The goal is to transform an anonymous wall on the outskirts of Catania into a 'Door in the womb of the Great Mother'. Artistic and educational workshops, involving mothers and pupils, are underway in these weeks.

THE DOOR OF BUTTERFLIES

The new Opera, that sees the light after beyond 15 years since the creation of the "Door of Beauty", will be built on the concrete wall of the equipped axis, alto 8 and a kilometer and a half long, that divides the neighborhood like a wound. During the workshops the young people model the clay, indelibly fixing their thoughts, born from common reflections, from the search for deep meanings, from the analysis of this present and from the projection of their existence towards the future. Like pieces of a great puzzle that makes up everyone's lives, tomorrow these terracotta shapes will be part of the largest ceramic bas-relief sculpture in the world.

SYMBOL OF REBIRTH

«The most powerful weapon we have at our disposal is Knowledge - says Antonio Presti - knowledge sets you free, ignorance subjects us in a condition of bondage. But the real cure for the soul is the Dream. Which together with desire and gratitude can defeat fears and uncertainties. This is the message I am trying to convey to the young people who have been participating in the workshops with great passion in recent months, energy, hope. A long work with artists, architects and art schools in Sicily, which also involves mothers and which in fact represents a political response to how Art manages to restore the re-appropriation of the territory and a new identity. I will never stop thanking the inhabitants of the neighborhood, who have always welcomed the Foundation's initiatives with great commitment and enthusiasm. Respect brings respect. And today, in the name of thanksgiving, continue this partnership with Librino and its people».

Gives Villa Maria you can easily reach Catania by car and by train (the railway station is just a few meters away) in about 20 minutes.