Tribute to two great athletes

Street art is an increasingly popular form of artistic expression, both in cities and small villages. Whether fleeting and ephemeral, like stencils, stickers, and tags, or structured and meant to last, like large murals adorning entire facades of public or private buildings, discovering these works always brings an unexpected emotion.

Franco Ballerini

In Casalguidi, at the Franco Ballerini sports area, there is a mural dedicated to the cycling champion and former head coach of the Italian national team, who passed away in 2010. A professional cyclist from 1986 to 2001, Ballerini won the Paris-Roubaix twice, the most prestigious of the Northern European classics, and a Grand Prix des Amériques. From 2001, he was the head coach of the Italian Men’s National Road Cycling Team.

Near the mural, created by local artist Matteo Gori, a commemorative stele was placed, and inaugurated during the 2022 Cycling World Championships.

Paolo Rossi

Forty years after the 1982 FIFA World Cup, in Ponte di Serravalle, at the Il Gatto e la Volpe green area, in 2022, the Pistoia-based artist Vegan, in collaboration with the Pistoia Art High School, dedicated a mural to Italian footballer Paolo Rossi, who passed away in 2020.

Nicknamed Pablito after his success in the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, Rossi became the top scorer of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, where Italy triumphed, and was awarded the Ballon d’Or.