The exhibition “Ruota Libera”, promoted by ERPAC – Ente Regionale per il Patrimonio Culturale del Friuli Venezia Giulia and hosted at Villa Manin, explores the history of the bicycle as a symbol of innovation, freedom, and social change. Curated by collector Mario Cionfoli, the exhibition retraces two centuries of technical and cultural evolution, showing how the bicycle transformed the way people moved, worked, and lived.
The narrative begins in 1815 with the draisine invented by Baron Karl von Drais, the first wooden bicycle prototype created during a climate crisis that had drastically reduced the use of horses. Initially a luxury object and status symbol, the bicycle gradually became a popular means of transport, a working tool, and a leading figure in competitive sport.
The exhibition features 62 historical and contemporary bicycles from public and private collections, including iconic models linked to cycling champions such as Gino Bartali, Tadej Pogačar, and Marco Pantani. Photographs, original documents, and archival materials illustrate the technical evolution of the bicycle, from early iron frames to the latest technologies.
The exhibition also highlights the bicycle’s influence on other industries, including motorcycles, automobiles, and aviation, while reflecting on its renewed role in sustainable mobility. Special attention is given to women’s emancipation, with a tribute to Alfonsina Strada, the only woman to compete in the men’s Giro d’Italia in 1924.
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