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Rocca delle Macìe offers a glimpse of street art in Castellina in Chianti: a permanent public work, visible to all those who pass in front of the new wine shop just outside the town.

The enoteca of the local Rocca delle Macìe winery has been open since autumn 2016. From August 2018 it has been enriched with street art that covers the entire wall of the adjacent building, that was unused and yet to be restored.

“The idea came from ​​Sergio and the Zingarelli family – they tell us at Rocca delle Macìe – who wanted to show and demonstrate the history of Rocca delle Macìe winery in that space which had been unused for too long”.

“We saw numerous sketches – they continue – and we had various animated discussions about the best way to get our message across, until some free-hand sketches realised on a piece of newspaper finally brought us to an agreement”.

The chosen artist is Valerio Prugnola – 25 years, from Rome – who since 2015 has dedicated himself to full-time painting. He has exhibited many of his works in group shows in Rome, and he’s had various commissions from companies and individuals. Today he has a studio where he works as a painter. He also manages a cultural association in Umbria, at the Castello di Mongiovino Vecchio, called Officine Mongiovino. He has been practicing non-professional boxing for ten years”.

“Even the choice of the artist – they conclude at Rocca delle Macìe – is perfectly in line with the reasons that moved Italo Zingarelli to organise the Premio d’Arte (Art Award) at Rocca delle Macìe every two years. One of the factors behind the choice of candidates was that they were young, novice artists. In this way the award has become a way to entice and help new talents, and this is exactly what happened this time”.

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