There’s going to be a big celebration in Piombino on 17th September 2026 to mark the start of the new school year, with the unveiling of the artwork ‘Leonardo fra terra e mare’, on display in Viale Regina Margherita, in the area under the jurisdiction of the North Tyrrhenian Port Network Authority.
The artwork was conceived and created by pupils at ISIS Val di Cornia, whose secondary schools are named after Leonardo da Vinci. It is the result of a project that brings together art, education, culture and the local area.
The tie between Leonardo and Piombino has its roots in the early 16th century, when the Tuscan genius was first invited by Cesare Borgia and subsequently by the Appiani princes to help design the town’s fortifications. Leonardo is credited with studies on Piombino’s fortifications, from the Rivellino di Porta a Terra to the Rocchetta on the Piazzarella, now known as Piazza Bovio. Piombino’s coastline also offered Leonardo an important opportunity for observation and study, as his numerous writings testify.
It is precisely this characteristic of Leonardo – his relentless quest for meaning, knowledge and understanding – that has been chosen as the source of inspiration for this artwork. A Leonardo who observes, studies, experiments and creates, transforming knowledge into craftsmanship.
This is the inspiration behind ‘Leonardo fra terra e mare’, a project designed to honour the Tuscan genius whilst, at the same time, highlighting the deep connection between Piombino, its coastline and the younger generations.
Claudio Capuano, senior manager at the North Tyrrhenian Port Network Authority, played host and highlighted the importance of the initiative: “After 500 years, Leonardo is back in Piombino with an artwork created by school pupils. We are delighted to welcome Leonardo to our port, a place of arrivals and departures.”
A piece of art destined to become part of the port’s landscape which, precisely because of its location, will be seen by millions of people arriving in and departing from Piombino.
‘Leonardo fra terra e mare’ was created by Piombino Art School. Pupils and teachers have collaborated as part of an inclusive educational programme to design and create a work of art that enriches the port and the local area.
“I am grateful to the school and its headteacher, Carlo Maccanti, who we have been working together with for a number of years now to promote school-work training,” Mr. Capuano added. “And if we are here today, it is precisely thanks to this synergy and the education community as a whole, which has also enabled close collaboration between our various departments, particularly the technical collaboration with our senior manager Mrs. Muccetti and our surveyor Mr. Sozzi.”
The headteacher, Carlo Maccanti, attended the ceremony, accompanied by numerous teachers and pupils from the Art School. Mr. Maccanti highlighted the role played by Piombino Rotary Club and the North Tyrrhenian Port Network Authority in bringing the project to fruition, describing it as “an act of love for the local area”.
Simona Cresci, a Piombino Municipality councillor, Ilaria Chirici from the Provincial Education Office, Harbour Master Marco Merico and Rotary President Giovanni Biegi also welcomed the event, all agreeing to highlight the cultural value of the initiative and its ability to strengthen ties between the city, the port and education.
The opening ceremony was accompanied by musical interludes performed by Professors Macrì and Rosatelli from Istituto Comprensivo 1, in the presence of the headteacher, Letizia Braschi.
Professor Lara Aldrovandi spoke about the sculpture from an artistic perspective, highlighting the process that led to its creation and thanking all the artisans who contributed to bringing this piece of work to life.
Finally, the most evocative moment of the inauguration was when the students themselves unveiled the double-sided sculpture, pulling away the Italian and European flags to let the artwork emerge in the sunlight.
Leonardo’s face appeared in all its splendour and artistic power, with its shades of greenish-brown and light blue.
From today this image will grace Piombino and its port. It conveys a message to the pupils, right at the beginning of the new school year, that is deeply rooted in Leonardo’s spirit:
“The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.”
Translation by Giles Foster
