The Archaeological and Landscape Park of Catania and Aci Valley needed a strong, distinctive visual identity to replace its previous logo, which was not particularly recognisable and did not fully reflect the richness of the heritage it manages. The redesign was essential to build a coherent, professional coordinated image, capable of clearly communicating the uniqueness of a territory where archaeology, landscape and history are closely connected.
The new logo stems from a graphic element that visually sums up the park’s identity: the Greco-Roman theatre, an architectural landmark and symbol of the Catania archaeological area. The concentric curved lines evoke the theatre’s cavea, while the wave-like movement recalls the river Aci flowing through the valley, bringing together the archaeological and landscape dimensions in a single distinctive sign.
The colour palette is built around two hues that are highly representative of the local archaeological heritage: a terracotta orange that directly refers to the building materials of the Odeon next to the Greco-Roman theatre, and a basalt black that evokes the lava stone typical of Etnean architecture and landscape. This chromatic choice firmly roots the logo in its territory, making the park’s Catania identity immediately recognisable through the very materials that physically shape its sites.
A serif typeface adds institutional elegance while ensuring excellent readability, and the balanced composition between symbol and lettering guarantees versatility across different applications.
The visual identity extends into a complete coordinated system that includes communication materials, directional and informational signage, bookshop merchandise and editorial content.
The new logo transforms the Park from a purely administrative body into a recognisable cultural brand, providing a strong identity tool that enhances its heritage and supports communication with diverse audiences, from local visitors to international tourists. The brand also has a digital life on the website and in the multimedia devices that support the visit, creating continuity between physical and digital communication.
Riccardo Bonina
Antonella Musumeci
Fabio Agatino