On Friday, September 19, a crowd gathered for the inauguration of the new lighting of the Passetto Staircase, organized by the Municipality of Ancona. The lighting project, designed by lighting designer Francesca Cecarini with iGuzzini lights, has transformed the recently restored staircase, highlighting its beauty and creating a unique and evocative atmosphere.

The lighting design integrates three components: functional lighting, for safety and usability; architectural lighting, to enhance the monument’s beauty at night; and creative lighting, thanks to gobos designed by the winner of the Light for Future competition, French lighting designer Loeiza Cabaret. The selected fixtures (Linealuce 27, design by Jean-Michel Wilmotte; Palco InOut, Underscore InOut) ensure visual comfort, high color rendering, and reduced energy consumption, with intelligent systems to regulate light flow—a true “light beyond the light.”

Moreover, thanks to iGuzzini’s Jiminy app, the staircase becomes an open-air museum: visitors can explore digital and interactive content, extending the magic of the light beyond the event.

As a special highlight, iGuzzini provided the Municipality of Ancona with “Anima Dorica”, an original light and music installation created by Spanish lighting designer Maurici Ginés, with music by Pierfrancesco Ceregioli, to be used during special occasions. The installation, presented to the public during the inauguration, will remain available to the Municipality, which can use it independently for festivals, celebrations, and city events.

The musical storytelling of Anima Dorica tells the story of a sea spirit who, curious about the staircase, decides to approach the land.

“When the idea of the staircase came up,” explains Maurici Ginés, “the main thought was to create a musical storytelling that would convey curiosity and discovery. The concept is based on a positive, happy sea spirit who lives in the waters but, intrigued by the staircase, decides to approach the land. At first, it observes the space with wonder and slight apprehension, wondering what it will find. The music begins at this moment, with a continuous background evoking the sea, created through the water pole. As the spirit moves closer and touches the first steps, it explores the staircase with joy and amazement. The piano, with ascending arpeggios, simulates upward movement, while the saxophone adds a breath of happiness. The spirit moves from right to left, playing with the light and perceiving the beauty of the space. In the end, although attracted to the staircase, it must return to the sea, with a farewell that leaves the possibility of coming back another time. The scenography and music, both respectful of the staircase’s architecture and its proximity to the sea, accompany the audience through the spirit’s journey—through discovery, play, and return—creating an immersive and harmonious narrative.”