Oro Nero dell'Etna International Lava Stone Sculpture Symposium

When Etna's stone becomes art

In the heart of the province of Catania, at the foot of Mount Etna, the Municipality of Belpasso has turned a defining material of its territory—lava stone—into the common thread of a cultural adventure spanning over a decade. The Oro Nero dell'Etna International Lava Stone Sculpture Symposium was born in 2014 with a simple yet ambitious idea: to invite sculptors from all over Italy and abroad to carve the volcano's black stone live, with their works then enriching the city's public spaces.

Belpasso, City of 100 Sculptures

The symposium is the driving force behind the Belpasso City of 100 Sculptures project, a true open-air museum that is free and accessible to everyone. The works created edition after edition are placed along the town's streets and squares: you can find them on Via Roma, in the Martoglio Garden, in Piazza Sant'Antonio, on Via Vittorio Emanuele, and in Piazza Stella Aragona in the Borrello district. The administration's stated goal is to reach at least one hundred lava stone works scattered throughout the urban fabric, making Belpasso a key stop for cultural tourism linked to Mount Etna.

How it works

For a few weeks, usually between September and October, the sculptors work on large blocks of stone at the F.lli Grasso quarry along the SP 56i road. The artistic site is open to the public: anyone can follow the birth of the sculptures, from the roughing out of the raw block to the handover ceremony of the finished works to the community. Alongside established artists, young students from the Academy often participate, fostering a dialogue between mastery and new generations.

Who organizes it

The initiative is promoted by the Municipality of Belpasso in collaboration with the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania, which provides artistic direction and scientific support. Over the years, the symposium has attracted internationally renowned sculptors and solidified Belpasso's identity as a hub for lava stone sculpture in Sicily.

A growing heritage

Each edition adds new works to the community's collective heritage: not ephemeral shows, but permanent artifacts that remain in the squares and become landmarks for residents and visitors alike. Visiting Belpasso thus means following an outdoor art itinerary, where the material of the volcano tells the story of the creativity of those who knew how to work it.