Matteo Ghitti: Passion on the Wings of Emotion
Volti Franciacortini
The encounter.
"I have always been convinced that 'good teachers' in the strictest sense do not exist; rather, some people possess the rare gift of transmitting passion, fostering learning, and igniting the spark of curiosity. It only took a few words with Matteo Ghitti to realize that he belongs to this category. Our first meeting took place on October 18, 2025, in Cologne, during his traveling exhibition presented at the Paolo Borsellino Cultural Center. The title of the exhibition, 'ON THE WINGS OF EMOTIONS – through a passion,' paid tribute to the legend of 'Il Pirata' Marco Pantani, in memory of the physiotherapist from Cologne, Fabrizio Borra, who passed away in May 2025. On that occasion, struck and filled with admiration for how much the display managed to convey to me, I approached him to offer my compliments. Matteo briefly mentioned the technical evolution of his exhibitions: that small glimpse was enough to make me sense the immense effort and dedication he pours into every event. From that evening on, I promised myself I would contact him to delve deeper into his story and introduce it in this column. On January 12th, we met again in my studio for our second meeting."
Meeting date: Monday, January 12, 2026
Who is Matteo Ghitti?
A Franciacortino doc through and through, Matteo is a technical quality control clerk by profession, but in his soul, he is, first and foremost, a devoted cycling enthusiast. This love was born as a young boy and cultivated through competitive racing. Since then, he began collecting magazines, jerseys, and memorabilia related to the world of two wheels. Once his racing career ended, he dedicated himself with even greater vigor to his collection, focusing particularly on Marco Pantani memorabilia. Over the last eleven years, this dedication has given life to a unique cultural project in the Italian scene: “Sulle Ali delle Emozioni” (On the Wings of Emotions), an experiential exhibition dedicated to the history, pathos, and protagonists of both classic and modern cycling. From 2015 to the present, his collection has grown steadily, documented with meticulous care on the official website: <a href="https://www.sullealidellemozioninbici.it
"In the days leading up to our meeting, I had prepared several questions for him but, as has already happened with other 'Franciacortino faces,' the storytelling of passion took over. Ours was a dialogue between people who find pleasure in sharing a project, rather than a formal interview. To tell you his story, as always, I like to start from the beginning.
How did your collection begin?"
Between the ages of 14 and 15, I lived with my parents in Palazzolo Sulla'Oglio. Near our house, there was a car mechanic who was a huge cycling enthusiast. During school holidays, I'd watch him close up shop in the evening, hop on his bike, and set off. His racing bike impressed me so much that I convinced my parents to get me one. From that moment on, the mechanic began taking me with him: we'd set off from Palazzolo, pass through Grumello and Sarnico, and then return to Capriolo. I immediately felt comfortable on the saddle, and I've been riding ever since. My cycling buddy was an avid reader of Bici Sport and, rather than throw them away, he'd give me old issues. That's where my collection began. I never threw anything away: I kept every gadget and jersey I'd collected, even during my amateur career. When I stopped racing, I felt the need to share these treasures, to relive the cycling exploits I loved.
What role does competitive experience have in your project?
"A lot. Training and participating in demanding events like the Gran Fondo has allowed me to understand the suffering of an athlete. I've never perceived that fatigue as a negative; on the contrary, it has helped me understand my own limits and appreciate the feats of champions. I believe that knowing what it means to ride a Dolomite pass at race pace allows me to better convey the great feats I've admired."
Over the years, you've curated numerous exhibitions. Which one has remained closest to your heart?
I'm having a hard time choosing just one; I'd pick two. To begin with, my first exhibition was held at the Mura medieval festival in Palazzolo sull'Oglio: they granted me a space even though the theme wasn't relevant to the event. I displayed Pantani's jerseys and two bicycles, telling the story through A4 photocopies placed in transparent envelopes and hung on the wall. I still remember the thrill of seeing the interest they aroused in visitors. The other was the 2021 exhibition in Varallo during the Abbiategrasso-Alpe di Mera stage of the Giro d'Italia. I found myself alone curating a major event for the Giro. The Varallo administration believed in the project and supported me, suggesting and financing the first large-format images on Forex. It was a tremendous satisfaction; at that moment, I realized I had succeeded in fully conveying the value of my project.
Your youthful passion seems to have transformed into something collective. Can we say that your installations represent the definitive "qualitative leap" in this journey?
I'd say so. It all began with my admiration for Pantani, then I felt the need to explore the context in which he raced, researching the greats of his time like Bugno, Chiappucci, and Indurain. I love reading and I love history: for each installation, I seek new inspiration and thematic connections tied to the place that hosts me. Year after year, I've also made a series of technical advancements: from photocopies, I've moved on to Forex, and now to roll-ups. Thanks in part to the help of my friend Stefano Girelli, together we've also developed a recognizable graphic design using the colors of the major stage races. My latest exhibitions have also become interactive thanks to the use of special QR codes that allow you to delve deeper into the stories of the champions with a link to my website. Over time, I've met many champions and enthusiasts who, understanding the value of the project, have donated or sold me jerseys and precious objects for a nominal fee. Today, the collection spans a period from the late 1980s to the present day.
What's next?
I'll be in Siena for the "Siena Sport Experience," from March 5th to 8th on Via Montanini, with an exhibition titled "Shades of Sienna." There's a funny anecdote about this: last summer my wife and I were in Tuscany for our 25th anniversary. Walking through the alleys of Siena's city center, I thought about the "Strade Bianche" (White Roads) and said to my wife, "Think how wonderful it would be to exhibit here next year." She replied that, given the caliber of the event, it certainly wouldn't be an easy undertaking, but I'm not easily discouraged. I wrote to the City of Siena and began to imagine a project that is now a reality. You can already find it on the website. the dedicated thematic path.»
And what's your favorite tour in Franciacorta?
I still ride, albeit at a different pace. When I was training seriously, I loved the ride from Cologne via Bellavista, then from Passirano and Rodengo to Gussago, then up to Polaveno from Brione. Then down towards Iseo and back via Corte Franca and Adro.
Durante la nostra chiacchierata, Matteo mi ha mostrato l’organizzazione del suo sito, in particolare le sezioni “La collezione” e “Le storie dei campioni“. Vi consiglio vivamente di visitarlo per restare aggiornati sulle sue prossime mostre.
Our meeting ended with the promise to keep each other updated and, I hope, to soon find ourselves cycling together on the roads of Great Tour of Franciacorta.
Claudio Pelucco
Founder of Franciacortino
I explore Franciacorta by bike, pedaling slowly through stories, roads, and details.
