Ex Ospedale Militare pt.2 The First Exhibition
In our first article about the place, titled "Ex Ospedale Miltare - part 1. Birth of Naples' newest exhibition place" we covered how a once abandoned building came back to life. After a long time of restorations, the building is ready to host exhibitions. In this article, we are going to explore the very first exhibition, that was held here, in 2024.
Art Days – Napoli Campania
Last year's Art Days – Napoli Campania, the contemporary art week of Naples and the whole region, put a spotlight on a remarkable location: La Santissima – Community Hub, housed in the historic ex-Ospedale Militare in Naples. Long abandoned, this monumental site has been given new life through a revitalization project led by Agenzia del Demanio, the Municipality of Naples, Urban Value, and Coop4Art. Their goal? To transform this vast space into a thriving cultural hub, blending contemporary art with the city's rich architectural heritage.
The Grand Opening: A New Chapter for La Santissima
On October 19 and 20, 2024, La Santissima hosted the Special Projects section of Art Days 2024, marking its grand debut as a contemporary art space. This historic complex, now reimagined as a center for creative experimentation, welcomed local and national cultural institutions for a dynamic, temporary exhibition that unfolded across its evocative halls.
Participants included:
Collezione Agovino (Naples)
Dino Morra Gallery (Naples), presenting a project curated by Ernesto Esposito
noh-art (Naples), in collaboration with Mimmo Scognamiglio Artecontemporanea (Milan)
480 Site Specific (Naples)
Fondazione Bartolomeo Gatto (Salerno)
Sof:Art by Matteo Novarese (Bologna)
T293 (Rome)
The exhibition remained open until October 27, offering guided tours and special events throughout the week. The OpenHouse initiative gave visitors a deeper understanding of the site's transformation and its new role in Naples' cultural landscape.
Why La Santissima Matters
The opening of La Santissima as a community hub signifies a significant advancement in Naples' cultural evolution. The ex-Ospedale Militare, a site that remained dormant for decades, is now being reinterpreted as a venue where contemporary art, heritage, and community engagement converge.
Unlike traditional museums or galleries, La Santissima adopts an open, flexible model, enabling artists, curators, and institutions to explore novel forms of artistic expression. Its expansive spaces—previously devoted to healing and military administration—now function as a canvas for site-specific installations, performances, and exhibitions.
The Future of La Santissima – Community Hub
While Art Days 2024 marked its official debut, the future of La Santissima is still unfolding. The site's transformation is part of a broader movement to repurpose historic yet underutilized spaces in Naples, turning them into vibrant cultural hubs. The collaboration between public institutions, private collectors, and contemporary artists suggests that La Santissima could become a permanent fixture in the city's art scene. In this place, history and creativity continue to intertwine.
As Art Days wrapped up, it became evident that La Santissima transcends the role of a mere venue—it's a powerful statement. It stands as a testament to Naples' ability to reshape its past and influence its future, integrating contemporary art into the core of the city's architectural and historical landscape.
Pics: ph (c) Amedeo Benestante, courtesy Art Days - Napoli Campania
Mate Ternovics