Altera Italia

The National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria continues its dialogue between archaeological heritage, contemporary art and research by hosting, from 16th July to 6th August 2026, Altera Italia, an exhibition by artist Alessia Rollo, realised in collaboration with Ulteriore.
 
Set up in Piazza Paolo Orsi, the museum’s inner courtyard, the exhibition presents the project selected as part of LYRA, the open call dedicated to research in contemporary art and visual culture.
 
Altera Italia combines photography and anthropological research in a journey dedicated to the ritual heritage of Southern Italy, inviting visitors to reflect on the complexity of a culture that remains deeply alive.

The exhibition brings together historical archival materials and photographs taken by the artist, reworked using analogue and digital manipulation techniques.

The result is an evocative, rather than documentary, imagery that conveys the symbolic power of the festivals and rituals that continue to animate communities across Southern Italy, contributing to the construction of identities and the strengthening of community ties.
 
Originally conceived under the title Parallel Eyes, the project is now entitled Altera Italia, an expression that, drawing on Latin, invites us to reconsider the Mezzogiorno (Southern Italy) beyond stereotypes and established narratives, through a new perspective capable of conveying its cultural and anthropological richness.
 
Alessia Rollo (1982) is a visual artist born in Southern Italy, where she lives and works.

After graduating in Visual Communication at the University of Perugia and completing a Master’s degree in Creative Photography at EFTI in Madrid, she has developed an artistic practice centred on the Mediterranean as a cultural, social and symbolic space.

Through photography, she creates contemporary narratives exploring themes of memory, identity and community, bringing attention to stories and visual heritage that are often marginalised.

Her work has been exhibited in museums, foundations and galleries in Italy and abroad, and has led to numerous publications and international research projects.
 
Free admission.