Two major Italian exhibitions will arrive in Riga in 2025, as announced by Latvia’s Minister of Culture, Agnese Lāce, and Riga’s Mayor, Vilnis Ķirsis, together with the Italian Ambassador, Alessandro Monti, during a press conference held at the Latvian National Museum of Art on March 6.

From May 22 to August 24, the Riga Bourse Art Museum will host “Italian Arts and Crafts from the 6th to the 19th Century”, in collaboration with Palazzo Madama and Fondazione Torino Musei. The exhibition will feature over 100 masterpieces of applied and decorative arts from the collection of Palazzo Madama in Turin, showcasing nearly fifteen centuries of Italian artistry—from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period—through a selection of works representing a wide array of artistic disciplines. “The exhibition narrates almost fifteen centuries of Italian art, from the Middle Ages to the Baroque, through masterpieces spanning diverse artistic expressions,” said Giovanni Carlo Federico Villa, director of Palazzo Madama.

From July 5 to October 26, “Light from Italy: From Fattori to Morandi” will take center stage, organized by the Latvian National Museum of Art in collaboration with the Uffizi Galleries. This exhibition will present masterpieces from the Uffizi Galleries alongside late 19th- and early 20th-century works from the Latvian museum’s collection, a remarkable result of an institutional partnership made even more significant by the 25th anniversary of the twinning between Riga and Florence.

“The exhibitions realized with Turin and Florence are a great and effective example of cultural diplomacy,” stated Minister Lāce, “demonstrating the excellent relationship developed with Italy and significantly enhancing the cultural offerings of our capital.”

“It is truly the year of Italy in Latvia,” added Ambassador Monti. “At a time of great dynamism for both Italian and Latvian culture, these exhibitions reflect the growing creative connection between our countries.”