Sicily: The Rite of Light Returns to the Pyramid of Fiumara d’Arte for the Summer Solstice

In Sicily, the Antonio Presti Foundation is once again hosting one of the most symbolic events of the Fiumara d’Arte project. On Sunday, June 21, 2026, to mark the summer solstice, the Pyramid—38th Parallel in Motta d’Affermo, in the Messina area, will exceptionally open its doors to the public to host the Rite of Light 2026, an event now in its thirteenth edition that has become, over the years, one of the most significant moments in the artistic, cultural, and spiritual journey conceived by artist and patron Antonio Presti. The theme chosen for this year is “The Immensity of the Immense,” a title that evokes the inner dimension of the experience offered to visitors and focuses on the relationship between humanity, nature, art, and spirituality. The ceremony will take place inside and around the Pyramid – 38th Parallel, a work by Mauro Staccioli and one of the most emblematic pieces in the Fiumara d’Arte open-air museum, which will be transformed for the occasion into a space for contemplation, reflection, and rebirth.

The experience planned for the ceremony leads visitors through the structure’s sole point of access: a long tunnel shrouded in darkness and illuminated only by light streaming in from the entrance. This passage takes on a strong symbolic meaning, representing a journey into the self—a path along which one gradually lets go of certainties and familiar points of reference to make room for inner listening and the perception of what is essential. In the darkness of the passage, the organizers explain, the ritual of letting go of the superfluous and losing one’s bearings takes place. Silence thus becomes a necessary tool for rediscovering an authentic dimension of existence, until the light of the summer solstice is reached—interpreted as a symbol of openness, rebirth, and access to what is defined as “the immensity of the immense.”

The ritual will be accompanied by a series of artistic performances featuring performers from various Italian regions. Among the announced artists are musician Mario Bajardi, actress Patrizia D’Antona, and musician and performer Lucina Lanzara. Songs, music, performative actions, and moments of shared experience will contribute to creating a collective celebration in which art and nature will engage in dialogue within a single immersive experience.

For Antonio Presti, the creator of Fiumara d’Arte and promoter of the initiative, the event’s deepest meaning lies in the opportunity to recognize the spiritual dimension present in every individual. “True immensity,” he says, “is not outside of us, but in the ability to recognize the divine that dwells within every human being. Only by passing through the darkness can we comprehend the immense.”

With this new edition, the Rite of Light reaffirms its original mission: to restore to art a function that is not merely aesthetic but also spiritual, civic, and social. The Pyramid—38th Parallel thus becomes a place of awareness and contemplation, but also a space dedicated to collective rebirth and the creation of new forms of cultural participation.

The event also takes on significant educational value. Through the direct involvement of the public and the opportunity to experience the works firsthand, the project aims to contribute to the dissemination of contemporary art and the promotion of culture as a common good accessible to all. In this context, the Pyramid – 38th Parallel, created in 2010 by Mauro Staccioli, continues to represent one of the most powerful symbols of the Fiumara d’Arte experience. The work aims to demonstrate how art can become a concrete tool for the regeneration of local areas, contributing to the revitalization of small towns and the creation of new prospects for sustainable development.

The strategic value of the initiative is also emphasized by the President of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, who describes the legacy built by Fiumara d’Arte as “an asset that Sicily has a duty to preserve and promote, recognizing contemporary art integrated into local communities as a driver of cultural and tourism development.” The mayor of Motta d’Affermo, Sebastiano Adamo, echoes this sentiment, highlighting the event’s role for the entire region. “We directly support this major cultural event, recognizing that it represents a significant opportunity for the cultural and tourism development of the entire region. We hope that the Rito can once again become a regular event, one in which regional institutions can also participate to ensure its increasingly structured growth.”

Another key element of this initiative involves the restoration and enhancement of existing structures. This is where the support expressed by the mayor of Mistretta, Sebastiano Sanzarello, comes into play; he reaffirmed the municipal administration’s backing for the planned restoration work. “We wholeheartedly support the start of the restoration work, which is the result of a genuine commitment. The municipality believes in Antonio Presti’s vision and in the symbolic power of the Fiumara. A profound energy emanates from this place, linked to the Genius Loci. Institutions have a duty to accompany this journey, so that it may become a living and shared heritage.”

The program of events related to the Rite of Light will begin as early as Saturday, June 20. Starting at 11 a.m. at Villa Margi, in the seaside hamlet of Reitano, visitors can take part in a guided tour led by Antonio Presti himself inside the hotel-museum Atelier sul Mare Suite d’Autore – Asteroid 20049 Antonio Presti. The event will offer the opportunity to discover the famous “Suite d’Autore” suites that have made the Atelier sul Mare a unique experience within the Italian cultural hospitality scene. The tour will also include some of Fiumara d’Arte’s most iconic works, such as “Monument to a Dead Poet (Window on the Sea)” by Tano Festa, “Heretical Horse: Guardian of Light” by Antonello Bonanno Conti, and “Ammonite: The Rebel Shields – A Tribute to Giusto Sucato,” created by Pablo Sucato and Giacomo Noyà.

The main event is scheduled for Sunday, June 21, at the Pyramid – 38th Parallel in Motta d’Affermo. Activities will begin at 3:30 p.m. and continue until sunset. Throughout the afternoon, artistic performances and ritual moments will alternate, while visitors will have the opportunity to enter the structure and directly experience the installation created for this edition. Participants are scheduled to gather at 3:00 p.m. in the plaza in front of Antonio Di Palma’s sculpture “Energia Mediterranea,” also in Motta d’Affermo. From there, a free shuttle service will transport the public to the Piramide - 38° Parallelo. Those who wish to do so may also reach the event site on foot, following a route of about three kilometers through the Nebrodi landscape. The events are open to the public, and the organizers invite participants to wear white clothing if possible and to remain silent during the ritual.

Sicily: The Rite of Light Returns to the Pyramid of Fiumara d’Arte for the Summer Solstice

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