Ayrton Senna Celebrations - Call to the Roots

Siculiana and the legend of Ayrton Senna

In the heart of the Agrigento province, the Municipality of Siculiana has turned a family connection into a cultural landmark: the Ayrton Senna Celebrations - Call to the Roots. Held annually around March 21st, the birth date of the Brazilian champion, the event honors the Sicilian roots of one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time. Senna's maternal family traces its origins back to this village on the Agrigento coast, from which his ancestors emigrated in the late 19th century.

The A.S.T.R.O. Museum

The centerpiece of the celebrations is the A.S.T.R.O. Museum—an acronym for "Ayrton Senna: Testimonies and Story of the Origins"—housed in the evocative Clock Tower in Piazza Umberto I. Inaugurated in November 2024 as part of Agrigento's Italian Capital of Culture 2025 program, the museum also serves as a stop for "roots tourism," which highlights the ties between the original communities and the descendants of Sicilian emigrants worldwide. The exhibition space gathers testimonies, images, and memorabilia that recount Senna's human and sporting journey.

The festival program

The event alternates between exhibitions, educational moments, and musical performances. Highlights include:

• "Shots of a Champion" photography exhibition by photographer Marco Isola, dedicated to images of the driver;
• "Wine and Sax", an evening featuring live music and tastings of local products;
• Guided tours of the museum and educational paths for schools, turning the exhibition into an open-air classroom;
• Book presentations, such as "The Time of the Sennas" by journalist Giacinto Pipitone, included in the "30 Books in 30 Days" calendar promoted by BCsicilia;
• "There is rhythm at the museum", the musical event that closes the festival.

An identity-defining event for Sicily

More than just a sporting tribute, these celebrations represent an opportunity for Siculiana and the entire Sicily region to rediscover their identity. The mayor and the municipal administration have repeatedly emphasized the museum's value as a guardian of collective memory: Ayrton Senna thus becomes an ambassador for all those who, between the 19th and 20th centuries, left the Sicilian coasts in search of a better life. It is a story that unites a passion for motor racing, the history of emigration, and the pride of a small community in the province of Agrigento.