Matera confirms its position as a European hub for scientific dissemination and aerospace. SPARKme Space Academy officially inaugurates a new era of major events with the permanent hosting of “Time Machines", the immersive exhibition created in collaboration with the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF). The inauguration saw the extraordinary participation of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Edmondo Cirielli, who emphasized the strategic importance of this exceptional institution for Basilicata and the entire country.
Born from the synergies cultivated over the years with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the European Space Agency (ESA), our Academy is now evolving into a unique educational and scientific center. After captivating audiences in Rome and Turin, the exhibition finds its permanent home in Matera, offering a 360-degree interactive journey through faithful reproductions of the solar system, multimedia installations, and black hole simulations. In a year when Matera shines as the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Merit, SPARKme Space Academy—which has already guided over 7,000 students through the secrets of the cosmos—establishes itself as concrete proof that Southern Italy is a true engine of innovation, projected toward the future of space. The exhibition is now open to all visitors, families, and schools ready to explore the Universe.