From August 14 to 23, 2026, the Firmafede Fortress in Sarzana will host the 38th edition of the “Città di Sarzana” National Antiques Fair, an event included in the cultural program of the historic complex and dedicated to the market and promotion of applied arts and antique works of art. The event is organizedby the Associazione Sarzana Antiquaria in collaboration with Confcommercio La Spezia and the Municipality of Sarzana, and curated by Elisabetta Sacconi. The initiative ranks among the nation’s leading trade fairs in the antiques sector, featuring a format that blends exhibition activities with a commercial dimension, complemented by a mission to promote culture and the arts.
The exhibition venue is the Firmafede Fortress, a Renaissance building of Florentine origin that serves as a permanent venue for cultural events. In 2026, the venue already hosted the exhibitions *Renato Guttuso: The Color of Reality* and *Giuseppe Veneziano: Anthology*. The interior spaces will welcome antique dealers from various Italian regions, offering a selection that includes period furniture, paintings, antique rugs, artistic ceramics, designer glassware, and 20th-century design objects. The selection of works also adheres to stated criteria of quality, authenticity, and historical and artistic significance.
The exhibition itinerary unfolds across the two levels of the fortress’s historic cells and concludes in the room dedicated to Fiorella Carelli Carozzi, a figure closely tied to Sarzana’s antiquities tradition and a leading figure in the local antiquities sector. The exhibition layout is designed to highlight the works and enhance the visitor experience, with careful attention paid to the distribution of spaces and the flow through the individual exhibition sections.
Notable works include paintings by Domenico Fiasella (1589–1669), such as *Abraham Expels Hagar* and *Rebecca and Eleazar*, along with a *Scene from Daily Life* by Adriaen van Utrecht (1599–1652). Also on display is a portrait of Monsignor Buonamente Augustini by Jacob Ferdinand Voet (1639–1689, Paris) and *Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife* by Lionello Spada. The exhibition also includes sculptures, furniture, decorative accessories, objects from various eras, and antique rugs, presented in a comparison of different styles and artistic languages.
Inside the Fortress, there will also be a dining area with bar and restaurant service, located in the monumental entrance hall, designed as a welcoming space for visitors throughout the entire exhibition period.
The National Antiques Exhibition has its roots in Sarzana’s antiquing tradition, beginning with the “Soffitta nella Strada” event in 1965 and leading up to the first edition of the National Antiques Market Exhibition in 1978. Over time, the event has evolved, expanding its scope and consolidating the presence of exhibitors and industry professionals on a national and international scale. The 2026 edition will be open to the public from August 14 to 23, with continuous hours from 6:00 p.m. to midnight, and will retain the evening format that characterizes the event within the historic complex.
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| Sarzana: The 38th Antiques Fair at the Firmafede Fortress |
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