Assisi hosted a Memorial Ceremony in honour of Guido Dettoni della Grazia, who passed away on 6 March 2026. It was a special occasion that brought together family, friends, colleagues and admirers from around the world to remember and pay tribute to his life, his work and the lasting legacy he leaves behind as an artist, a friend and a human being.
Words by Francesco Fiorelli
President of the Pro Loco of Assisi
Photo: Mauro Berti
During the memorial ceremony for Guido Dettoni della Grazia, held on 12 September 2026 at Santa Maria delle Rose, Francesco Fiorelli reflected on the history of the MARIA Exhibition and the bond that, from its very beginnings, connected the artist with this historic place and the city of Assisi.
The exhibition’s story in Assisi began during the Jubilee Year of 2000, when the MARIA Exhibition first arrived at Santa Maria delle Rose. It subsequently travelled to the Pontifical University in Rome before returning to Assisi in 2002, where it found its permanent home in this place steeped in history.
Situated in the highest part of Assisi, Santa Maria delle Rose preserves a heritage dating back to Roman times. The church stands on the foundations of the city’s ancient wall, and beneath the floor that now houses the Alpha Omega structure of the MARIA Exhibition lie the remains of a pagan temple. Santa Maria delle Rose was also known as Santa Maria del Sopramura or Santa Maria Minore, a name that distinguished it from Santa Maria Maggiore, located in the lower part of the city, in what is now the Santuario della Spogliazione, home to the tomb of Saint Carlo Acutis.
Fiorelli also recalled the exhibition’s early years, when the MARIA Exhibition was managed by the Diocesan Museum and he served as treasurer of the Cathedral Chapter. It was during this period that a close relationship developed between him and Guido, founded on collaboration, mutual respect and personal esteem, and sustained over the years.
As a testament to the bond between the MARIA Exhibition and the city, and in recognition of the lasting mark Guido left on Assisi, Francesco Fiorelli, current president of the Pro Loco, announced the artist’s posthumous appointment as an honorary member of the association. In recognition of his legacy, he presented Guido’s membership card, issued that year with the commemorative image marking the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis. He also presented a second card to the artist’s eldest daughter, in her capacity as president of the cooperative that manages the exhibition.
This dual tribute highlights the MARIA Exhibition’s place in the cultural life of Assisi and honours a bond forged over more than two decades, in which art, spirituality and memory intertwine to keep Guido Dettoni’s presence alive and preserve the legacy of his sacred art in Assisi.
