Gradara Contemporanea
International contemporary art in the medieval village of Gradara
About Gradara Contemporanea
A medieval village that becomes an open-air museum
Gradara, a small municipality in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino and one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, is famous for its Malatesta Fortress and the legend of Paolo and Francesca sung by Dante. For some years now, this medieval treasure chest in the Marche region has hosted Gradara Contemporanea, an exhibition that brings international contemporary art into and around the village, creating a fascinating short-circuit between the ancient and the present.
The heart of the event is the MARV - Rubini Vesin Museum of Art, set up in the rooms of an 18th-century palace in the heart of Gradara. Alongside this, in various editions, other locations in the village such as the Rocca Demaniale, Villa Conventino, and the Historical Museum are included, in a widespread exhibition path that invites visitors to rediscover Gradara step by step.
An exhibition in continuous evolution
Each edition of Gradara Contemporanea revolves around a solo exhibition by an internationally renowned artist, often produced by MARV in collaboration with foreign galleries and exhibition spaces such as the Rosenfeld Gallery in London. Alongside the solo show, the exhibition brings together dozens of established and emerging names, with a growing international scope: in recent editions, artists from the United Kingdom, Japan, Spain, the United States, Germany, San Marino, Taiwan, and South Korea have exhibited.
The 2026 edition: Bongsu Park's flowers of memory
The VI edition, scheduled for June 2026, focuses on the exhibition "I fiori della memoria" (The flowers of memory) by Korean artist Bongsu Park, curated by Riccardo Freddo and Luca Baroni in collaboration with the Rosenfeld Gallery. A multi-sensory exhibition that transforms flowers and plants into images, matter, and scent, inviting the public not only to look but to perceive memory as a shared experience.
Between art, landscape, and tradition
Visiting Gradara Contemporanea means combining the discovery of the most current art with the beauty of a village that has retained its medieval character intact. The exhibitions dialogue with the masterpieces preserved in the Fortress and with the suggestions of the Marche hilly landscape, a few kilometers from the Adriatic coast. A cultural proposal that places the Marche region and the village of Gradara on the map of Italian and European contemporary art.
- Where: MARV - Rubini Vesin Museum of Art and locations within the village, Gradara (PU)
- When: June, every summer
- What: solo and group exhibitions of international contemporary art
- For whom: art enthusiasts, tourists, families
Gradara Contemporanea — edition 2026
Bongsu Park - I fiori della memoria
From June 6 to July 5, 2026, MARV - Rubini Vesin Museum of Art in Gradara hosts the solo exhibition "I fiori della memoria" (The flowers of memory) by Korean artist Bongsu Park, born in Busan and active between London and the international scene. The exhibition represents the heart of the VI edition of Gradara Contemporanea.
At the center of the exhibition is the series Janhyang (2025), in which painting, plant matter, and olfactory composition merge into a single sensitive organism. The artist collects and presses flowers and plants onto the canvas, allowing natural pigments to transfer for months, then reworks the dried matter into handmade ceramics and distills them to extract their scent. The result is an experience that invites the visitor to perceive memory as a shared field, made of scent, matter, and image.
The exhibition is curated by Riccardo Freddo and Luca Baroni (director of MARV), in collaboration with the Rosenfeld Gallery in London, the Marche Nord Museum Network, and Augeo Art Space.
Programme Gradara Contemporanea 2026
Solo exhibition "I fiori della memoria" by Bongsu Park at MARV - Rubini Vesin Museum of Art, featuring the Janhyang series (2025): paintings made with plant matter, ceramics, and olfactory compositions. The 2026 edition of Gradara Contemporanea introduces gender parity in the selection of artists and involves four young curators under 25 (Elisabetta Lotti, Lucrezia Manucci, Chiara Tonti, and Tommaso Vincenzi).
Highlights Gradara Contemporanea 2026
- Solo exhibition by Korean artist Bongsu Park
- Janhyang series: multi-sensory works combining painting, plant matter, and scent
- Curated by Riccardo Freddo and Luca Baroni, with the Rosenfeld Gallery of London
- Four young curators under 25 and gender parity as a 2026 novelty
Prices Gradara Contemporanea 2026
Practical information — Gradara Contemporanea
How to get there
Gradara is located on the border between Marche and Romagna, in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino. By car: A14 motorway, Cattolica-San Giovanni in Marignano exit, then a few minutes inland. By train: Cattolica-San Giovanni in Marignano or Pesaro station, with onward travel by bus or taxi. Nearest airports: Rimini and Ancona-Falconara.
Venue and opening hours
The MARV - Rubini Vesin Museum of Art is located in the historic center of Gradara (Via Umberto I). The museum is generally open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, closed on Mondays. It is advisable to check the updated hours and any collateral events on the official website before your visit.
Tickets and contacts
For information on admissions, tickets, and guided tours: tel. +39 0541 964115 or +39 340 1436396, email [email protected]. Full program and exhibition details at marvgradara.com.
Tips
Combine your visit to the exhibitions with a walk along the walls and to the Gradara Fortress: the village offers numerous typical restaurants where you can taste Marche and Romagna cuisine.
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Where does it take place — Gradara Contemporanea
MARV - Museo d'Arte Rubini Vesin
Via Umberto I, 61012 Gradara