Murales of Diamante

What sets Diamante apart from a dozen other Tyrrhenian fishing villages is the painting on its walls. More than three hundred murals cover the facades of the centro storico, ranging from abstract works to political statements to playful trompe-l'oeil. The styles are inconsistent on purpose — the whole point was to gather many voices in one place.

Walking the old town with no particular route is the right way to experience it. Some murals have weathered into ghosts; others have been repainted by their original artists or replaced by newer work. A free map is available at the municipal tourist office on Via Vittorio Veneto, but getting lost yields more rewarding finds than following any planned itinerary.

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The mural project began in 1981 when local poet Nino Larocca invited 83 artists from eight countries to paint the walls of the old town in a single week. The festival was meant to be a one-off but the paintings stayed, and new artists have been adding work ever since.

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