Barocco & Neobarocco Festival
Art, design, and architecture amidst the Baroque palaces of Ragusa Ibla
About Barocco & Neobarocco
A festival blending Baroque and contemporary art in Ragusa Ibla
The Barocco & Neobarocco Festival is an art, design, and architecture event held in the heart of Ragusa Ibla, the famous late-Baroque district of the municipality of Ragusa, in the province of Ragusa, southeastern Sicily. Rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake, Ragusa Ibla is part of the Val di Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its extraordinary Sicilian Baroque. It is within this unique setting that the festival bridges historical architecture with contemporary creativity.
The festival's vision
Created to reflect on the relationship between the Baroque style and its modern reinterpretation, the festival transforms the city's noble palaces into temporary exhibition spaces. Frescoed halls, grand staircases, and ornate facades become the backdrop for installations, design exhibitions, photography, ceramics, fashion, and contemporary art. The goal is to highlight the rebirth of historic centers through the language of contemporary materials and design.
The venues
The festival's historic venues are among the most spectacular Baroque palaces in Ibla:
- Palazzo Cosentini, famous for its sculpted corbel balconies;
- Palazzo La Rocca, with its intricate Baroque figures;
- Palazzo della Cancelleria;
- the former church of San Vincenzo Ferreri, now an auditorium hosting conferences and meetings.
Artistic direction
The festival is curated by architect and designer Roberto Semprini, a leading figure in Italian design, and is promoted by the cultural association Stupor Mundi. Each edition features a theme that connects the Baroque heritage with contemporary design issues, involving artists, designers, and academic institutions of national and international standing.
Why visit
The Barocco & Neobarocco Festival is a unique opportunity to discover Ragusa Ibla in a new light, entering palaces usually closed to the public and experiencing the encounter between history and modernity. It is a high-quality cultural offering that enriches the tourism landscape of the province of Ragusa and all of southeastern Sicily.
Barocco & Neobarocco — edition 2026
The sixth edition of the Barocco & Neobarocco Festival was held in Ragusa Ibla from June 4 to 7, 2026, under the artistic direction of architect Roberto Semprini. This year's theme, "Rebirth: The Time of Materials in Historic Center Architecture," explored the role of materials in the regeneration of Baroque heritage.
The venues included Palazzo della Cancelleria, Palazzo Cosentini, Palazzo La Rocca, and the former church of San Vincenzo Ferreri. Exhibitions remained open to the public until June 28, while outdoor installations were on display until September 30, 2026.
Programme Barocco & Neobarocco 2026
Thursday, June 4 — Material & Rebirth
Festival opening with a day dedicated to the theme "Material & Rebirth" at the Auditorium of the former church of San Vincenzo Ferreri.
During the festival
- From 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the San Vincenzo Ferreri Auditorium hosted meetings with key figures in the design world.
- Exhibitions and installations in the Baroque palaces (Palazzo della Cancelleria, Palazzo Cosentini, Palazzo La Rocca), featuring works by Antonio Marras, Korean artist Yong Nam Kim (glass, metal, and traditional lacquer), and Alessandro Trambaioli, Beatrice Rizzardo, Gesine Arps, Carlo Coniglio, Wu Wei, and Ilde Barone.
- Projects by students from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts (Milan) and IULM.
Sunday, June 7 — Fashion & Art
- Meeting at the Teatro Donnafugata between Costanza di Quattro and Patrizia Sardo Marras.
- Evening talk "Minimalist Baroque" with Roberto Semprini and Antonio Marras at the San Vincenzo Ferreri Auditorium.
Highlights Barocco & Neobarocco 2026
Prices Barocco & Neobarocco 2026
Practical information — Barocco & Neobarocco
Getting there
Ragusa Ibla is located in the historic center of Ragusa, in southeastern Sicily. By car, it can be reached via the SS115; the nearest airports are Comiso (approx. 20 km) and Catania-Fontanarossa (approx. 100 km). The Ragusa train station is connected to the regional network.
Where it takes place
Exhibitions and meetings are held in the Baroque palaces of Ragusa Ibla (Palazzo Cosentini, Palazzo La Rocca, Palazzo della Cancelleria) and in the former church of San Vincenzo Ferreri.
Tips
Ibla is best explored on foot: wear comfortable shoes for the hills and cobblestone streets of the historic center. Check the exhibition opening hours on the official channels of the festival and the Municipality of Ragusa.
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Where does it take place — Barocco & Neobarocco
Palazzi barocchi di Ragusa Ibla
Ragusa Ibla, 97100 Ragusa