Rome’s Circo Massimo Metro Station becomes “Circo Massimo – FAO” to mark the Organization’s 80th Anniversary

Rome – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with Municipality of Rome and Atac – the Italian capital’s municipal public transport company - today inaugurated the redesigned entrance hall of the Circo Massimo metro station, located just a few steps from FAO headquarters and now renamed “Circo Massimo – FAO.”

The event marked the opening of the 44th FAO Conference and the launch of the Organization’s 80th anniversary celebrations.

The entrance hall and atrium of the station now feature installations by both local and international artists whose artworks celebrate the deep connections between food, tradition, innovation, and the environment.

Designed to honor farmers as “artists of the earth,” the installations also shine a spotlight on the vital contributions of food heroes who work every day to nourish communities around the world.

The initiative was developed in collaboration with Atac and the City of Rome and supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

Addressing the ceremony, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu thanked the partners for their key support. This initiative, he said, will contribute to raising awareness of agriculture, culture, and FAO’s work. “We have a long way to go,” he said, “but we will do it together in the Eternal City.”

Paolo Aielli, Director-General of Atac thanked FAO “for choosing to “adopt” the Circo Massimo station on the occasion of its 80th anniversary, celebrating sustainable agriculture and farmers. ATAC has long supported sustainability and collaborates with artists to enhance metro stations,” he said. “I am confident that both residents and tourists will appreciate the artwork that beautifies the station’s atrium.”

Eugenio Patanè, Rome’s Councillor for Mobility, stated that citizens, commuters, and tourists will benefit from the “wonderful permanent installations”. He added that these are “initiatives we always welcome, as they are part of a broader project we are carrying forward with Atac to make our metro stations more beautiful, accessible, and user-friendly”.

With more than 20,000 commuters using the station daily, “Circo Massimo – FAO” now serves as a public platform for engaging citizens, visitors, and travelers in a public space where art, agriculture, and sustainability converge.

The event also marked the inaugural public activation of the FAO Museum and Network (FAO MuNe), an innovative and interactive space at the Organization’s Headquarters. Dedicated to agrifood systems, agricultural history, and culinary heritage, the FAO MuNe is designed to be a permanent platform for public engagement, education, and exchange. FAO MuNe will be officially inaugurated on World Food Day, 16 October 2025, in the scheduled presence of the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.

This initiative stems from a broader partnership under a new Implementation Agreement, building on the Memorandum of Understanding between FAO, the Municipality of Rome, and MAECI.