Parco Sculture del Chianti

Seven hectares of oak woodland north of Siena contain around thirty site-specific sculptures by artists from five continents. Opened in 2004, the Chianti Sculpture Park combines contemporary art with the Tuscan landscape, with an amphitheatre and a gallery at Pievasciata.

Why it matters

Conceived by gallerists Rosalba and Piero Giadrossi, the park invites international artists to create works for a particular patch of oak and holm-oak forest. Sculptures in bronze, iron, granite, marble, glass and neon remain in place among the trees, where the woodland forms part of the experience of each work.

What to notice

The collection includes Energy by Costas Varotsos, Labirinto by Jeff Saward, and works by Dominic Benhura, Ichwan Noor, Kim Hae Won and Yasmina Heidar. The works use different materials and forms, and some engage with sound, light or vegetation. A gallery extends the park's exhibition programme indoors.

Context and history

Before the Giadrossi family cleared and planted the site as a sculpture park, the woodland was enclosed for wild-boar breeding. The park opened in 2004 and has grown to around thirty permanent works. The nearby hamlet of Pievasciata presents itself as a Borgo d'Arte Contemporanea. With support from the non-profit Amici del Parco association, the park also hosts performances and concerts in its amphitheatre and offers educational programmes for schools.