Vatican City is about to take you on a whirlwind journey with its latest exhibition, En Route, celebrating travel, exploration, and the intersection of cultures until December of this year. This exhibit, part of the Jubilee celebrations for 2025, explores the adventurous spirit of human curiosity, blending scholarly insights with a more contemporary flair. With an exciting mix of history, fashion, and art, this exhibition is sure to leave visitors thinking about the world in new ways.
The heart of the exhibition lies in the Poma. Periodici collection, an incredible archive of around 1,200 newspapers from across the globe. This treasure trove, unearthed from the estate of diplomat and scholar Cesare Poma, covers five continents, showcasing not only Poma's own cultural journey but also an obscure periodical, En Route. Published between 1895 and 1897 by two French journalists, Lucien Leroy and Henri Papillaud, En Route told the stories of their global travels, all in a bid to fund their journey. Alongside these male-centric adventures, the exhibition highlights the stories of pioneering women who broke Victorian norms, travelling solo for reasons that ranged from journalism to politics.
But the real magic happens when contemporary creatives step into the spotlight. Lorenzo Jovanotti, the globetrotting singer-songwriter, kicks things off with a visually stunning display of his travels and musical life. His curated travel diary, exclusive soundtrack, and personal objects provide an intimate glimpse into his journey. “In La Habana, I found the Rome of the early 1970s… I seemed to suddenly stumble upon protrusions in the ground and realise that they were my roots,” Jovanotti reflects. His words offer a poetic connection between personal history and global exploration.
Icelandic illustrator Kristjana S Williams also adds her touch, reimagining the journeys of both the Poma collection and En Route through her signature dreamlike and symbolic artwork. “It has been an incredible honour. The historical documents offer a fascinating insight into the way humans have experienced and viewed the world,” she says of her collaboration.
And then, there’s Maria Grazia Chiuri, the Creative Director of Dior, who delves deep into the relationship between fashion and travel. With a site-specific installation featuring the stories of six intrepid female travellers, she reflects on how clothing can empower the body and unlock freedom of movement. As she herself puts it, “It is a great privilege to be invited to exhibit in the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana... Knowledge and creativity are for me completely intertwined and I am both honored and humbled to be able to imagine a project in such a significant location for our global culture and education.”
This exhibition, curated by Don Giacomo Cardinali and a team of experts, culminates with a stunning display in the Sistine Hall, featuring Mappa by Alighiero Boetti, a significant piece from the Gallerie d’Italia. And as if that wasn’t enough, the Vatican Library has teamed up with Dior and the Galateri di Genola family to digitise the Poma. Periodici collection, making it freely available online for all to explore.
