A.S.T.R.O.
Ayrton Senna – Testimonies and the Retelling of Origins

Siculiana, a medieval village perched on the Agrigento coast, holds within its ancient heart a museum that surprises and stirs emotion: A.S.T.R.O. Ayrton Senna – Testimonies and the Retelling of Origins. Housed inside the Torre dell’Orologio -an historic clock tower nestled between the Chiaramonte Castle and Siculiana’s Mother Church- this is far more than an exhibit. It’s a full-scale immersive experience: a vivid blend of imagery, memorabilia, augmented reality, 3D viewers, art, video projections, and storytelling. A compelling narrative that weaves together myth, memory, and identity. This museum is a tribute to the legendary Formula 1 champion and his family, whose roots trace back to Siculiana, a town just a few kilometers from the Valley of the Temples, the Scala dei Turchi, and the Torre Salsa Nature Reserve. But A.S.T.R.O. isn’t a traditional motorsport museum—it’s the gripping story of a journey, slower and longer than any racetrack, but no less dangerous: a voyage across the ocean into the unknown, seeking redemption from a life of poverty. It’s the story of Giovanna Magro, born in 1876 in Siculiana to a family of farm laborers. At just 18, she left behind a newly unified but impoverished Italy, and a Sicily torn by battles between peasants and landowners. She set sail with her family for Brazil aboard the steamship Matteo Bruzzo, packed with Italian emigrants chasing a better life. A month later, she arrived in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. There, she met and married Luigi Sena, a man from Campania, whose surname became “Senna” due to a clerical error. From that family line, Ayrton Senna was born in São Paulo in 1960. It’s almost unbelievable, but the great-grandmother of this undisputed racing legend came from Siculiana.

Journalists Anna Restivo and Giacinto Pipitone, who authored the exhibit’s texts, spent nine months researching this forgotten story. Their work gave voice back to the life and journey of Senna’s great-grandmother, a journey fueled by courage and hope. In Brazil, genealogical records offered only a name, a date, and a place: Giovanna, July 8, 1876, Siculiana. That faint echo made its way back to this small Sicilian town, where Mayor Giuseppe Zambito launched an investigation into the woman who would turn out to be the racer’s ancestor. The breakthrough came from a yellowed archival page: Giovanna Magro’s birth certificate.

From there, the story took shape and became a museum exhibit that has already drawn thousands of visitors. During the opening ceremony – when Bruno Senna received his family tree – Mayor Zambito emphasized how A.S.T.R.O. is more than a cultural and technological initiative. It’s a bridge: between places, between memory and the future, between heritage tourism and sports tourism. The project was strengthened by a “Friendship Pact” signed between the cities of Siculiana, Imola, and Maranello: three iconic locations tied to Senna’s life and career. A three-time F1 world champion, winner of 41 Grand Prix races, Senna remains a shining star in the 4-wheel firmament.

The museum’s stunning design was curated by Francesco Ferla and Salvatore Negrelli, with the aim of drawing visitors into a layered narrative that unfolds on two levels: one tracing Senna’s Siculiana roots, the other his human and sporting arc. With interactive tablets, augmented reality, and fine art panels, the experience highlights every technical detail of his legendary Lotus 97T and McLaren MP4 cars, almost dissected to reveal chassis, turbines, cylinders, and pistons. Technologies like laser engraving, watermark printing, and special metals turn each section into a point of discovery.

Alongside this digital and mechanical world, the exhibit features iconic objects: Senna’s unmistakable yellow helmet, his racing suit, and even the white coat worn by the doctor who rushed to help after the fatal crash at Imola in 1994. Striking photographs by Marco Isola and works by artist Alessandro Rasponi add visual depth and emotional weight to the story.

Crucially, the exhibit also shines a light on Senna’s human side. Deeply spiritual, Ayrton attributed his passionate soul more to his Italian roots than to the urban, tropical landscape where he was raised. Today, the foundation that bears his name continues to support underprivileged children in Brazil’s favelas.

A.S.T.R.O. is not just a tribute to one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers. It’s a story of legacy that bridges distant worlds—engines and ancestry, technology and humanity. It’s also a relaunch for Siculiana, positioning the town as a reference point for “roots tourism” starting in 2025, the year of Agrigento Italian Capital of Culture. But above all, it’s a museum that celebrates courage: on the racetrack, at sea, and in life.