When in Sassari we talk about art, memory, and the valorization of the city's cultural heritage, it's natural to think of the Candelieri, which celebrate their climax on August 14th. And it is precisely to the large wooden candles of the Gremi, the ancient guilds, that the first event of the final event of the PINQuA project "Living and Inhabiting the Center," curated by the Municipality of Sassari and funded by the European Commission #NextGenerationEU and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, is dedicated.
Two days. Wednesday, Starting at 4:00 PM, the Urban Living Lab at Corso Vittorio Emanuele 155 will host an afternoon open to the public, designed as a moment to share and recount the work accomplished over the past three years. The completely free initiative will open with the inauguration of the permanent exhibition of Candelieri-themed paintings, a participatory space for promoting and disseminating the history of the Guilds. The exhibition showcases the 13 works created as part of the project, along with materials produced with schools in Sassari, including games and self-built furniture, a tangible testament to the community's active involvement.
Following this, at 5:30 pm, the tour of the open-air museum dedicated to the Candelieri will begin. This immersive journey will guide participants through the 13 works, one for each candle, translated into ceramic and installed along the streets of the historic center, in the Guilds' headquarters, and at the places where the Candelieri are dressed. This experience intertwines art, storytelling, and identity, allowing you to rediscover the city through one of its most vibrant and shared heritages.
The route will remain accessible year-round, the permanent result of the "Viva i Candelieri" participatory initiative involving artists and creatives, members of the guild, and the local community. This three-year initiative involved residents and tourists, with interviews, experiences, and workshops. The exhibition will remain open to the public until April 18th, every afternoon from 4:30 pm.
The following day, Thursday, between Largo Infermeria San Pietro and Piazza Santa Caterina, the results of the two strands of the PINQuA project will be presented: the action plan for economic, social, and territorial cohesion and the integrated housing management plan. The project is being developed in collaboration with Avanzi - Sostenibilità per Azioni, Fradi, Human Foundation, LandWorks, and Tamalacà.
