From September 10 to October 18, 2026, one of Taormina’s most fascinating historic buildings hosts an important cultural event. Palazzo Corvaja is the setting for Corrado Cagli: Nostoi. Rome New York Taormina, an exhibition devoted to Corrado Cagli, one of the most original and internationally connected figures in twentieth-century Italian art.
Visiting the exhibition offers an opportunity not only to discover Cagli’s work but also to explore his special relationship with Sicily and Taormina. For travellers spending a few days in town, it is an excellent way to combine Taormina’s archaeological sites and spectacular landscapes with modern art and twentieth-century cultural history.
Corrado Cagli: Nostoi at Palazzo Corvaja
The Corrado Cagli exhibition in Taormina is promoted by Babilonia Italian Language and Culture Center and curated by Raffaele Bedarida, with artistic direction by Franco Baldasso.
It has been organised in collaboration with the Archivio Corrado Cagli in Rome, Fondazione R.H. Kitson – Casa Cuseni and Spedart, with the patronage of the Municipality of Taormina, Fondazione Taormina, Fondazione Federico II, Sapienza University of Rome and Bard College in New York.
The exhibition takes place at Palazzo Corvaja, in the heart of Taormina, and runs until October 18, 2026.
The venue itself contributes to the experience. Palazzo Corvaja combines architectural elements belonging to different periods of Taormina’s history, creating a particularly appropriate setting for an artist whose life and work crossed geographical, cultural and historical boundaries.
Who was Corrado Cagli?
Born in Ancona in 1910 and deceased in Rome in 1976, Corrado Cagli was a painter, draughtsman, set designer and multifaceted artist whose work developed through constant experimentation.
His life intersected with some of the defining events of the twentieth century. Cagli left Italy following the Fascist racial laws and moved to the United States. During World War II, he joined the US Army and took part in the European campaign.
His American experience had a profound influence on both his personal and artistic development. In New York, Cagli became part of an international cultural environment and also worked with the emerging world of modern ballet as a set and costume designer.
He returned to Italy in 1948, but this homecoming was far more complex than a simple end to exile. The meaning of return itself is one of the central themes explored by the Taormina exhibition.
What does Nostoi mean?
The title Nostoi refers to the ancient Greek tradition of stories recounting the homecoming of heroes after the Trojan War and inevitably evokes the journey of Odysseus.
For Cagli, however, returning home was not simply about nostalgia for a place left behind. It became a process through which identity could continuously be questioned and reconstructed.
Rome, New York and Taormina therefore represent three fundamental locations in his personal and artistic journey.
Rome evokes Fascist Italy and later the post-war period. New York represents exile but also rebirth and encounters with an international artistic community. Taormina, meanwhile, became an important setting for another chapter of Cagli’s life and creative development.
Corrado Cagli and Taormina
Cagli’s connection with Sicily is one of the distinctive aspects of the exhibition at Palazzo Corvaja.
The project develops themes explored in the 2023 exhibition at the Center for Italian Modern Art in New York, also curated by Raffaele Bedarida, while extending the narrative to examine the artist’s Sicilian experience.
During the 1960s, Taormina was a remarkably cosmopolitan destination. Artists, writers and intellectuals from different countries met here, contributing to an international cultural atmosphere that went far beyond tourism.
Cagli became part of this world, establishing relationships with major cultural figures and developing a special connection with the area.
Corrado Cagli’s surprising passion for football
One of the exhibition’s lesser-known stories concerns Cagli’s relationship with football.
The artist viewed sport as both a collective ritual and a form of bodily expression. His interest was also very practical: in Sicily, he founded and financially supported Robur Letojanni and even designed a shirt for Palermo.
His life around Taormina illustrates his ability to move naturally between very different worlds. He spent time with intellectuals such as Giuseppe Ungaretti and Danilo Dolci, as well as footballers and celebrated players such as José Altafini.
This unusual aspect of his biography reveals just how deeply Cagli became involved in Sicilian life.
Exploring the exhibition at Palazzo Corvaja
The exhibition design, curated by architect Pietro Airoldi, establishes a dialogue between Cagli’s works and the historic rooms of Palazzo Corvaja.
Different sections explore various periods of his artistic research, from muralism to his relationship with Sicily. Part of the exhibition is presented in rooms associated with the historic Sicilian Parliament, adding another layer of meaning to the experience.
Works from different stages of Cagli’s career allow visitors to appreciate the evolution of an artist whose visual language cannot easily be confined to a single movement or style.
An international network of artists and intellectuals
Cagli’s career was also shaped by an extraordinary international network.
The exhibition explores his relationships and collaborations with figures including Charles Olson, Igor Stravinsky, Danilo Dolci and George Balanchine.
Works and documents also shed light on the connections he developed between the United States and Italy with personalities such as Saul Steinberg, Eugene Berman, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Victor Brauner.
Visitors therefore encounter not only the story of an individual artist but also a wider community of artists and intellectuals that helped ideas circulate between Europe and the United States during the twentieth century.
Casa Cuseni and Piccolo Processo
The exhibition also leads visitors to Casa Cuseni, one of the most significant places in Taormina’s cultural history.
During the post-war period, the house became a meeting place for artists, intellectuals and international visitors. The exhibition explores this cosmopolitan environment with particular attention to Piccolo Processo.
The work was dedicated to magistrate Giuseppe Navarra and was inspired by the difficulties faced by the judiciary in combating the Mafia following the 1969 Viale Lazio massacre.
The exhibition ticket also allows visitors to see Piccolo Processo at Casa Cuseni, where the work is preserved. It can be visited every day from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm and from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Opening hours and tickets
Corrado Cagli: Nostoi. Rome New York Taormina is held at Palazzo Corvaja, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Taormina, from September 10 to October 18, 2026.
The exhibition is open every day from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 3:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
A full-price ticket costs €10, while the reduced ticket costs €5 for school groups, Taormina residents and visitors aged between 6 and 18.
Free admission is available for children up to the age of 5 and other eligible categories specified by the organisers, including accredited journalists, authorised tourist guides and people with disabilities under the applicable conditions.
Guided tours are also available by reservation.
An exhibition to discover during your stay in Taormina
Visiting Corrado Cagli: Nostoi reveals a different side of Taormina from the familiar images of the Ancient Theatre, Isola Bella and Mount Etna.
It introduces visitors to the cosmopolitan Taormina of the twentieth century, a town capable of attracting artists, writers and intellectuals and becoming a meeting point between different cultures.
The central location of Palazzo Corvaja also makes the exhibition easy to include in a day exploring Taormina. Visitors can combine it with a walk along Corso Umberto, a visit to the Ancient Theatre and time spent discovering the historic centre and its panoramic terraces.
The exhibition is therefore an opportunity to understand how Taormina’s cultural heritage extends far beyond its ancient monuments.
Stay in the heart of Taormina
If you are planning to visit the Corrado Cagli exhibition in Taormina, why not turn the occasion into a short break and enjoy a few days in the historic centre?
Book a room at Bed and Breakfast Teatro Greco 39 and experience Taormina from the heart of the town, surrounded by art, history, Mediterranean landscapes and Sicilian culture.
Book your stay directly at B&B Teatro Greco 39 and take advantage of the best available price.
FAQ about the Corrado Cagli exhibition in Taormina
When is the Corrado Cagli exhibition in Taormina?
The exhibition runs from September 10 to October 18, 2026.
Where is Corrado Cagli: Nostoi being held?
The exhibition is hosted at Palazzo Corvaja in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, in central Taormina.
What are the exhibition opening hours?
It is open every day from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 3:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
How much does admission cost?
A full-price ticket costs €10, while reduced admission is €5 for eligible visitors.
Who is entitled to free admission?
Free admission is available to several categories, including children up to 5 years old, accredited journalists, authorised tourist guides and people with disabilities according to the organisers’ conditions.
Who curated the exhibition?
The exhibition is curated by Raffaele Bedarida, with artistic direction by Franco Baldasso.
What does Nostoi mean?
The title refers to the ancient Greek theme of returning home. In the exhibition, it becomes a way of exploring Corrado Cagli’s journeys, returns and evolving identity.
What was Corrado Cagli’s connection with Taormina?
Cagli spent time in Sicily and Taormina and became involved with the town’s vibrant international cultural community, particularly during the 1960s.
Can I also visit Casa Cuseni?
The exhibition ticket includes the opportunity to see Piccolo Processo at Casa Cuseni during the scheduled visiting hours, from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm and from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Where can I stay when visiting the exhibition in Taormina?
B&B Teatro Greco 39 offers accommodation in Taormina’s historic centre, making it convenient to explore the exhibition and many of the town’s main cultural attractions on foot.
