In Verona mid-September and looking for something to do?
Verona is gearing up to host Tocatì, an international festival celebrating street games from September 12th to 15th. And the city is offering something truly special this year—a unique artistic journey that dives into the world of play in art. Spanning from ancient times to modern-day masterpieces, the “Arte in Gioco” project invites visitors to experience Verona’s museums like never before, with installations and activities centered around the theme of fun.
A big festival highlight is the 1936 painting “Il Giocoliere” by Antonio Donghi, on loan from UniCredit’s art collection and currently displayed at the Castelvecchio Museum. This work is the heart of the project, paired with other iconic pieces in the museum, such as Giovan Francesco Caroto’s famous “Portrait of a Child with a Drawing” and the 14th-century sculpture of a smiling Cangrande I della Scala. Francesca Rossi, director of the Civic Museums of Verona, notes that Donghi’s painting, influenced by great masters of the past, blurs the line between reality and illusion, cleverly alluding to the fragility of the human condition, always balancing on the edge and subject to fate’s whims.
At the National Archaeological Museum, visitors can step back in time to explore ancient games through historical artifacts, and even try their hand at some of these age-old pastimes. Over at the Roman Theater, Giorgio De Chirico’s “Horses and Gladiators” will interact with circus mosaics, creating a fascinating dialogue between art and history.
The GB Cavalcaselle Fresco Museum will delve into the game as a metaphor for love, featuring “Mars and Venus Playing Chess” by Padovanino. Meanwhile, the Miniscalchi-Erizzo Museum Foundation will showcase a Flemish painting of a man and woman engaged in a game of what we now know as backgammon, offering visitors the chance to play one of the oldest games in history.
The Natural History Museum will explore play as a means of socialization and learning among animals, while the University of Verona and the Achille Forti Gallery of Modern Art will examine the connections between play and contemporary art. The Museum of African Art will feature games and toys made from natural and recycled materials, including a wooden kamishibai theater that will come to life with the help of visitors.
The event will be enriched with themed guided tours, interactive workshops, and various activities designed to make the experience even more engaging. For example, at Palazzo Maffei, participants can try out ancient printing techniques while chasing the famous “Great Wave” by Hokusai. At the E.ART.H. Foundation, paper will take center stage as a creative medium in a playful and artistic setting.
