About the luthiers

The Italica is the result of an extraordinary collaborative project involving twenty Italian luthiers who came together as part of the Rome Expo Exhibitions. The guitar was a donation to the organising association as an expression of gratitude for its many years of work in preserving, promoting and disseminating Italian guitar making, and is both a tribute to the centuries-old tradition of Italian musical instrument making and a testament to contemporary craftsmanship. The participating luthiers include some of the most renowned Italian maestri, such as Enrico Bottelli, Aldo Ilotta, Mario Grimaldi, Lorenzo Lippi and other representatives of various regional schools. They are all united by a common goal: to honour the national heritage of Italian lutherie. The woods used were donated by the Rivolta company, and the machine heads were provided by Nicolò Alessi.

The rosette features a unique mosaic composed of signature elements from several of the participating makers, reflecting the collective identity of the project. The soundboard was crafted by Mario Grimaldi, whose contribution adds a personal touch to the instrument's tonal foundation. Italica was presented and played by internationally renowned guitarists, including Alvaro Pierri and Thibault Garcia, during the 2025 edition of the Roma Expo Guitars.

All proceeds from the sale of this guitar will go directly to support the Roma Expo Guitars association, helping to sustain its activities and future editions.

About the guitar

Built exclusively from native Italian tonewoods, the Italica revisits historical materials and aesthetic codes with contemporary finesse. The selection includes Fiemme Valley spruce for the soundboard, flamed pear and curled poplar for the ribs and five-piece back, cypress for the neck, and thermally treated radiata pine for the fingerboard. These materials, long associated with Italian musical instrument making from the Renaissance to the twentieth century, contribute to a voice that is open, clear, and fundamentally lyrical, with quick response and a refined tonal palette.

Structurally, the Italica takes inspiration from a 1962 instrument by Pietro Gallinotti—one of the most influential Italian luthiers of the twentieth century. While the original concept has been freely reinterpreted, the guitar retains Gallinotti’s sensitivity to balance and projection, reimagined here through a modern lens. The bridge and ornamental elements combine bone, pear, poplar, and eucalyptus, creating a visual synthesis that mirrors the collaborative nature of the instrument’s construction.

Siccas Guitars is honored to represent this one-of-a-kind instrument, which stands as a collective expression of Italian lutherie at its finest.

Roma Expo Guitars

2025 REG Limited Edition "Italica"