The Historic Center murals project in Bettolle and Sinalunga took off thanks to an initiative promoted by Auser Centostelle of Bettolle in 2016. The painting classes, held under the guidance of master Federico D’Agostino, have increasingly involved the local community, stimulating the creativity and active participation of residents.
Master D’Agostino, with patience and encouragement, has been able to make the best of even the least precise brushstrokes of his students, proving that time and dedication can lead to extraordinary results. The enthusiasm of the participants grew day by day, and it was this passion that led the teacher to propose an even more ambitious project: the collective creation of a mural painting on the walls of the Auser clubhouse in Bettolle.
The project then evolved, broadening its aims toward decorating the rostrums and arbors of the doorways of the town’s houses. These elements, over time lost and removed by their owners, were brought back to light thanks to the colorful intervention of the murals, which made the village even more distinctive and inviting.
The consecration of this collective effort and of Federico D’Agostino’s Bottega came in conjunction with the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy. During these events, three important murals were created that reproduced famous paintings and episodes from Garibaldi’s history, thus testifying to the encounter between art, history and national identity.
Following these successes, numerous individuals approached the Bottega with a request to decorate the walls of their homes. Many facades were adorned with floral motifs and false balconies created from small columns, which then became distinctive and symbolic of the work of D’Agostino’s Bottega. The murals transformed gray, anonymous walls into open-air canvases, giving the urban fabric a new vigor and renewed look.
Today, walking through the Historic Center of Bettolle and Sinalunga, one can admire the beauty and variety of works that tell not only of a successful art project, but also of a community that is alive and participating, capable of valuing and rediscovering its roots and proudly celebrating its cultural heritage.
bettolle@auser.siena.it