Vilnius and Rome: Capitals Connected by Mythical Wolves Install Italian Artwork on Gediminas Hill
Vilnius unveiled a life-sized bronze sculpture in collaboration with Italy on Gediminas Hill. Highlighting the shared role of the wolf in the founding legends of both Rome and Vilnius, the installation marks 35 years since the restoration of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Italy. Vilnius features deep historical ties to Italy through its Baroque Old Town and Italian art.
17 June 2026 – Vilnius, Lithuania. Vilnius unveiled a new landmark on Gediminas Hill on June 16: "Wolf," a life-sized bronze sculpture by renowned Italian contemporary artist Davide Rivalta.
The sculpture was a joint effort of both countries to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Italy. Now it stands on the hill's viewing platform and symbolically connects Vilnius and Rome through the animal that features prominently in the founding legends of both capitals. The diplomatic relations were severed during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania and were restored after Lithuania’s independence in 1990.
Rome's origins are inseparable from the Capitoline Wolf, who, according to legend, nursed Romulus and Remus. Vilnius, on the other hand, traces its beginnings to Grand Duke Gediminas' mythical dream of an iron wolf whose howl foretold the rise of a city that Vilnius has become.
The sculpture was installed on the same Gediminas Hill that the Grand Duke saw in his dream, and built a castle on top.
Gediminas Castle Tower is the most frequently visited branch of the National Museum of Lithuania. Its exhibition invites visitors to learn about the history of Vilnius as the centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and also to take in the most spectacular panoramic view of the city. It has become one of Lithuania's most iconic landmarks, where the country's history, the city's founding legend and contemporary cultural life converge.
"Wolf" connects contemporary art with the historic landscape while inviting visitors to reflect on the shared myths and cultural traditions that link Vilnius with the wider European story.
"The installation of Davide Rivalta's Wolf on Gediminas Hill offers a contemporary interpretation of the founding legends of Vilnius and Rome while highlighting centuries of cultural exchange between Italy and Lithuania. Our countries continue to evolve through art and shared heritage – from historic trade routes on the Amber Road during Roman times and Renaissance influences through Bona Sforza to Baroque artists that helped shape the UNESCO listed Vilnius Old Town. We are sincerely grateful to Lithuanian institutions for allowing Italy to place our artist’s work in such a symbolic site of Lithuanian statehood and culture, especially to the Vilnius Club for its patronage and support," said Emanuele de Maigret, Italy’s ambassador in Lithuania during the opening ceremony.
"Wolf" by Davide Rivalta on Gediminas Hill, Vilnius (c) Saulius Žiūra
The connection between Vilnius and Italy extends far beyond symbolic legends. Many of the city's most distinctive Baroque landmarks were created by Italian architects, sculptors and painters invited to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the 16th century onwards.
Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. Located in Antakalnis, the church’s interior contains more than 2,000 stucco figures created by Italian masters Giovanni Pietro Perti and Giovanni Maria Galli. No two figures are exactly alike, and together they transform the church into what many consider one of the most impressive Baroque interiors in Europe.
Pacai Palace. Now a hotel, the residence brought together some of the 17th century’s leading Italian artists, including architect Giovanni Battista Frediani, stucco master Giovanni Pietro Perti and painter Michelangelo Palloni. The palace became one of the grandest aristocratic residences in Vilnius and later hosted a remarkable list of guests, from Polish-Lithuanian kings to Napoleon himself.
Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. This 15th century historical palace invites visitors to learn more about Bona Sforza, the Italian-born Grand Duchess of Lithuania and Queen of Poland. Her influence shaped the political, cultural and economic life of the Grand Duchy in the 16th century. Next door, the Bona Sforza Square features a bas-relief dedicated to the renowned Queen.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas said: “This is where the story of Vilnius begins and where the city's founding legend comes to life. It is fitting that a work connecting two European capitals will now welcome residents and visitors alike. Davide Rivalta’s ‘Wolf’ not only enriches Vilnius’ cultural landscape, but also reminds us that cities are shaped not only by architecture and history, but by symbols that continue to resonate today. I am pleased that Vilnius remains open to international cultural projects that strengthen our ties with Europe and invite people to discover the city in new ways.”
This broader cultural connection is now reflected in Italy and Lithuania’s Cultural Year and the newest installation by Davide Rivalta. Born in Bologna, he is one of Italy's most recognised contemporary sculptors, whose works are exhibited all-around Italy, Dublin, Oslo, and now Vilnius. The life-sized bronze wolf reflects Rivalta's long-standing artistic exploration of animals in public spaces. Positioned on Gediminas Hill, the sculpture reminds that cities are shaped not only by architecture and monuments, but also by stories, symbols and collective memory.
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ABOUT THE PROJECT
The sculpture, depicting the animal that serves as the symbol of both Vilnius and Rome, evokes the legends surrounding the founding of the two capital cities. The artwork was installed on the hill named after Grand Duke Gediminas on 16th June 2026 to mark the 35th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Italy, as part of the Year of Lithuanian Culture in Italy and the 2025–2026 Italian-Lithuanian Cultural Programme.
The project, conceived on the initiative of the Italian Embassy in Vilnius and the National Museum of Lithuania, is promoted by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture and realized in collaboration with the Vilnius City Municipality, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Cultural Institute in Vilnius. Patron of the project: Vilnius Club
ABOUT GO VILNIUS
Go Vilnius is the official tourism and business development agency of the City of Vilnius. The agency provides visitors, investors, and businesses with all the essential information about the Lithuanian capital.
For more information, please contact:
Gintarė Kavaliūnaitė, Public Relations Project Manager
Phone: +370 617 45 202
Email: gintare.kavaliunaite@
Go Vilnius | the Official Development Agency of the City of Vilnius
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