The MAM, Museum of Art on the Sea, is a fascinating open-air museum located along the south pier of San Benedetto del Tronto. Stretching for about one kilometer, this pathway offers a permanent collection of sculptural and pictorial works, the result of the international art symposium “Festival of Art on the Sea,” which was established in 1996 and has so far seen the participation of 201 artists from all over the world.
Today, the Museum of Art by the Sea contains 200 sculptures created on the faces of the breakwater blocks lined along its promenade and more than 30 murals painted by world-renowned leading street artists on the faces of the concrete blocks of its third stretch.
MAM’s itinerary also includes Giuseppe Straccia’s striking sculptural Nativity Scene consisting of twelve life-size travertine figures, nine of which are placed in a fan shape on the rocks in front of three others that make up an underwater Nativity, submerged in the sea, at the initiative of the Italian Naval League, in 2010 between the second and third sections of the south pier.
The figures on the rocks represent typical characters of the Sambenedettese seafaring industry, such as the retara, the rope-maker, the fisherman and his family, and are meant to remind us of the city’s seafaring history and its strong connection to the sea. Due to its uniqueness, the Nativity scene was awarded the high Patronage of the European Parliament in 2018.
In addition to the sculptural and pictorial works created during the 28 successive symposia since 1996, MAM contains three other monumental sculptural works.
The most emblematic is certainly the bronze sculpture about eight meters high, dedicated to the seagull Jonathan Livingston. Created in 1986 by master Mario Lupo at the initiative of the Circolo dei Sambenedettesi, this sculpture represents an invitation to overcome life’s challenges with commitment and determination, aspiring to freedom of body and spirit. The figure of the seagull, suspended between sky and sea, continues to be a symbol of lightness and autonomy for all who admire it.
Another outstanding work is the monumental travertine sculpture created in 2006 by Genti Tavanxhiu. Dedicated to Msgr. Francesco Sciocchetti, this sculpture celebrates the priest’s contribution to the advancement of motor fishing and the education of fishermen. Nearly eight meters tall, the work depicts a sailboat with a turbine, and at night, thanks to strategic lighting, it appears as a huge alabaster wing glowing in the dark.
The third work is a fountain made of concrete and river pebbles, created in 2010 by San Benedetto del Tronto sculptor Marcello Sgattoni from San Benedetto del Tronto on a commission from the city council. This fountain, with its original design, further enriches the museum’s artistic itinerary.
The Museum of Art on the Sea in San Benedetto del Tronto is a unique place where art and nature meet in a harmonious dialogue. The artworks, set in a striking marine environment, offer visitors an unforgettable visual and spiritual experience, making MAM a must-see destination for citizens and tourists alike.
Website of MAM – Museum of Art on the Sea