STAINED GLASS WINDOW

 SAN BART BRICK PARTY SECOND EDITION (2026)

The San Bart Bricks Party returned to brighten the seafront of San Bartolomeo al Mare during the weekend of May 23rd and 24th, 2026, turning Piazza Torre Santa Maria into a true paradise for LEGO® brick enthusiasts, families, and visitors of all ages. With free admission and a welcoming atmosphere set against the beautiful Ligurian coastline, the event attracted an impressive 2,130 visitors over the two-day festival.

Although the event was officially supported by the Pro Loco association and the Municipality of San Bartolomeo al Mare, the real driving force behind the festival was the association COSTRUIREINSIEME – AlbengaBrick, led by Marco Munì. From inviting exhibitors to coordinating the displays and ensuring that every aspect of the event ran smoothly, their dedication was visible everywhere. In this context, “Costruire Insieme” — literally meaning Building Together — became far more than just a slogan: it perfectly represented the spirit of collaboration, passion, and community shared by organizers, exhibitors, volunteers, and visitors alike.

Among the highlights of the event were the spectacular LEGO® creations on display, showcasing remarkable craftsmanship, creativity, and attention to detail. Alongside the exhibition area, visitors could also enjoy spaces dedicated to scale modeling, board games and role-playing games, as well as workshops and hands-on activities designed especially for children.

The festival ran continuously throughout the weekend, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Saturday and from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Sunday, offering both locals and tourists a memorable experience filled with creativity, fun, and the joy of sharing a common passion.

The San Bart Bricks Party was not only a major event dedicated to LEGO® bricks, but also a true celebration of creativity in all its forms. Alongside the impressive brick-built creations, visitors had the opportunity to explore the worlds of board games, role-playing games, and three-dimensional modeling, turning the festival into an experience that went far beyond the LEGO® universe itself.

Particular attention was drawn to the modeling area curated by the association Governo Ombra, which brought to San Bartolomeo al Mare a remarkable collection of dioramas and scenic reconstructions, admired for their artistic quality and extraordinary level of detail. The displayed works guided visitors through different eras and atmospheres: from the fantasy-inspired “Attack of the Undead”, to the historical setting of “Napoleon in Liguria”, and the everyday scenes recreated in “Life in the Middle Ages.”

This blend of bricks, modeling, and gaming became one of the most appreciated aspects of the entire event, creating a dynamic and engaging environment where different passions could coexist and interact naturally. Once again, it perfectly embodied the true meaning of “Building Together”: sharing ideas, experiences, and creativity within a space open to everyone.

If the worlds of modeling and gaming helped make the San Bart Bricks Party such a diverse and engaging event, the true heart of the festival undoubtedly remained the bricks themselves — and above all, the creations and activities that turned children from simple spectators into real protagonists. In this role, Andrea Brickoso once again stood out as one of the event’s most charismatic entertainers, involving both kids and adults with enthusiasm, humor, and a healthy dose of creative madness.

Throughout the entire event, Andrea organized a long series of activities and challenges dedicated to younger visitors, transforming the play area into one of the liveliest and noisiest parts of the whole festival. However, his talent does not stop at entertaining children alone: Andrea is also remarkably skilled at actively involving adults, creating a participatory atmosphere where parents, relatives, and even casual spectators inevitably become part of the game themselves. And this is precisely what makes his activities so special: not a simple “babysitting area” where children are left to play on their own, but rather a genuine moment of sharing and almost a form of team building between kids and adults, united through creativity, fun, and the desire to play together.

Another crowd favorite was the custom spinning-top competition, where participants had to build their own spinning tops using LEGO® bricks and compete to see which one could spin for the longest time. What seemed like a simple challenge quickly became a test of creativity, balance, and engineering skills.

One of the funniest and most spectacular moments of the weekend, however, was undoubtedly the contest for the tallest and strongest tower. Children had to build structures as high as possible, knowing that height alone would not guarantee victory. The towers also had to survive a series of “artificial tests” invented by Andrea himself. Volunteers selected from the audience — the unfortunate but amused “victims” chosen as judges — were asked to blow against the towers or simulate earthquakes by shaking the tables to test the stability of the constructions. In the end, the winner was the tallest tower still standing after all the challenges.

Behind this apparently simple and highly entertaining activity, however, there is also an educational message. Through these challenges, Andrea tries to teach children that catastrophic events and the forces of nature should never be underestimated, and that designing buildings or structures requires attention, stability, and the ability to anticipate potential risks. After all, Mother Nature always hides unexpected dangers, and people must learn to acknowledge them and face them in the safest possible way.

Another hugely popular activity was the speed building competition using loose bricks, a true race against time in which participants had to invent and build something capable of impressing the jury. What made the contest even more original was its unique voting system.

The jury was divided into three different categories: the participating children, the adults, and the exhibitors themselves, considered the “expert judges.” Each category voted using a different LEGO® element, each carrying a specific score value:

• children’s votes were worth 1 point, represented by a 2x2 brick;
• adults’ votes counted for 2 points, symbolized by a 2x4 brick;
• expert judges’ votes were worth 5 points, represented by a LEGO® wheel.

To ensure fairness, children were not allowed to vote for themselves, and relatives could not vote for their own family members. It was a simple but clever system that often allowed the expert judges to make the decisive difference in selecting the final winner. While younger participants and parents were not always completely impartial, the exhibitors’ technical evaluations frequently rewarded the most creative, well-designed, and structurally solid builds.

Naturally, the true heart of the San Bart Bricks Party was represented by the AFOL exhibitors (Adult Fans of LEGO®), whose creations transformed the event into a gallery of creativity, technique, and passion. Between dioramas, original builds, and highly detailed creations, every table told a different story capable of capturing the attention of children, collectors, and curious visitors alike.

Among the exhibitors present were myself, Cristina Mattiazzo, Ruggero Francia, Andrea Caboni, Davide Massone, and the display cases curated by Marco Munì. Also featured was a diorama created by Guido Giaretto, who, although not personally attending the event, still contributed with one of his works.

A special mention once again goes to Andrea Caboni, already well known for entertaining children as “Andrea Brickoso,” who, alongside the activities area, also showcased three of his own personal creations.

In the following sections, we will take a closer look at the exhibited works, dedicating a specific paragraph to each artist and their creations, exploring themes, curiosities, and the most interesting details behind them.

Let us begin with the creations of Andrea Caboni, now an unmistakable presence at the San Bart Bricks Party thanks to his activities for children as “Andrea Brickoso,” but also a talented builder capable of showcasing highly detailed and carefully crafted works.

Andrea presented three very different creations, two of which were set in medieval times but developed with completely distinct styles and atmospheres.

The first one, the “Winter Castle,” immediately stands out because of a rather uncommon feature in the world of medieval LEGO® creations: its winter setting. Snow, ice, and cold tones dominate the entire scene, giving the work a unique and original visual identity. Another particularly interesting choice made by the builder was leaving the back side of the castle open, allowing visitors to look inside the structure. This offers a glimpse into the castle’s interior architecture as well as several scenes of everyday court life, enriching the diorama with small narrative details that encourage viewers to spend more time observing the build.

Completely different in mood is the “Medieval Village,” which instead seems immersed in the colors and atmosphere of autumn. Rather than depicting a true fortified castle, the creation portrays a small medieval village, with houses, everyday life scenes, and only hints of defensive walls and castle structures. The diorama is especially vibrant and colorful, featuring several clever building techniques and fine details. Among the most impressive elements are certainly the blades of the watermill, beautifully designed and immediately eye-catching for visitors.

The third creation, titled “The Gendarmes’ Bay,” shifts entirely to a pirate-themed adventure setting. The build represents a sort of secret island where gold and jewels are supposedly kept safe… or at least that is the idea. The bay does not appear to be all that secret, however, since a group of pirates is already landing on the shore, attempting to storm the fortress and steal as much treasure as possible. The diorama successfully tells a lively action scene, filled with movement and small details that make the entire display feel dynamic and alive to the audience.

Among the most distinctive exhibitors at the San Bart Bricks Party was undoubtedly Davide Massone, a builder specialized in the Bionicle universe and president of the association Bionicle Italia. His creations brought a completely different approach compared to traditional LEGO® dioramas, focusing instead on articulated figures, fantasy creatures, and highly dynamic display pieces with a strong visual impact.

One of the most impressive works on display was a large armored figure with dark color tones and a style somewhere between fantasy and science fiction. The creation immediately stood out thanks to the incredible amount of detail in the armor, featuring spikes, metallic elements, and purple decorations that gave the character a menacing and mysterious aura. In one hand, the figure held what looked like an energy weapon, while in the other it appeared to control a glowing sphere, almost like a powerful magical artifact. The entire build conveyed an extraordinary sense of power and stage presence, demonstrating how the Bionicle system can evolve far beyond the simple concept of a buildable action figure.

Alongside this creation, Davide also showcased a spectacular brick-built reinterpretation of Rayquaza, the famous green dragon Pokémon. The creature was suspended in the air thanks to an elegant transparent support that enhanced its dynamism, truly giving the impression of seeing it flying. The construction faithfully reproduced the sinuous shape of the original character while maintaining remarkable building cleanliness and precision. Particularly impressive were the head, with its aggressive expression and open jaws, as well as the golden details distributed along the serpentine body. It was a creation that immediately captured the attention of both LEGO® enthusiasts and Pokémon fans alike.

For LEGO® vintage enthusiasts, one of the most appreciated exhibition areas was undoubtedly the one dedicated to the works of Guido Giaretto, which immediately captured the attention of the more nostalgic visitors. His diorama featured several boats and ships originating from historic and now very old LEGO® sets, bringing back memories of a time when the City and maritime themes were among the favorites of children during the 1980s and 1990s.

The display recreated a peaceful harbor area, complete with lighthouses, docks, workboats, speedboats, and small vessels spread across the central water section. Alongside the maritime setting, there were also several land-based rescue vehicles, including fire department trucks and other service vehicles, further enhancing the classic “town” atmosphere typical of vintage LEGO® sets.

Rather than focusing on spectacular effects or modern building techniques, Guido’s work stood out mainly for its emotional impact, offering visitors a small journey into the past through colors, shapes, and sets that marked the childhood of entire generations of LEGO® fans.

One of the things I personally continue to enjoy every time I attend an event organized by Marco Munì is his now well-known collection of custom-framed LEGO® minifigures inspired by famous characters and icons from movies, comics, music, and video games.

These small creations perfectly combine humor, collecting, and pop culture, with each minifigure carefully customized to instantly recall the character being represented. Walking past the display cases, it is almost impossible not to stop, observe the details, and have fun recognizing all the different references.

Among the ones that caught my attention the most during this weekend were definitely the music-inspired figures, including Ligabue, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, Oasis, 883, and of course an unmistakable Freddie Mercury. Each one successfully captured some of the most iconic traits of the artists portrayed, transforming simple minifigures into small brick-built caricatures that were immediately recognizable even from a distance.

Displays like these truly demonstrate how the LEGO® world can go far beyond simple building, becoming a creative medium for celebrating characters, artists, and passions that are part of the pop culture of entire generations.

Ruggero Francia never fails to surprise me whenever I meet him at an event, because his creations are constantly being modified, expanded, and improved to an incredible degree. This time, he decided to revisit one of the builds I have always appreciated the most: his giant mushroom house.

In the past, this creation was part of a larger diorama, but Ruggero has now chosen to transform it into a standalone display, making the mushroom house the true centerpiece of the scene. It was definitely the right choice, as the structure now stands out much more and can be admired in all its details.

To create this new version, he used at least two — perhaps even three — copies inspired by the famous “Mushroom House” design by Jonas Kramm, reworking and expanding the original concept into something far larger and richer in detail. Despite the expansion, the build still preserves the fairy-tale and fantasy atmosphere that made the original creation so beloved among AFOL enthusiasts.

The final result is an extremely harmonious and imaginative diorama, almost like a small enchanted world. Vegetation, colors, giant mushrooms, pathways, and architectural details blend together perfectly, creating a lively and welcoming scene full of details to discover. It is one of those creations that inevitably makes both adults and children stop for a few extra minutes, carefully searching for every little hidden detail throughout the build.

Moving into the world of Star Wars, one of the displays that attracted the greatest attention from visitors was undoubtedly the diorama by Cristina Mattiazzo, who brought her now well-known Tatooine layout to the exhibition — a creation that has gradually become a true icon at Italian LEGO® AFOL events.

As the name itself suggests, the diorama is entirely dedicated to the desert planet from the Star Wars saga and, more specifically, to some of the most iconic scenes from the original trilogy, the one that many longtime fans still consider the “real” Star Wars.

The build immediately stands out not only because of its size and the incredible amount of detail, but especially thanks to its numerous animated and mechanized sections, which make the diorama feel alive and spectacular to watch. One of the most impressive scenes is undoubtedly the Sarlacc pit, where the creature moves and stretches upward in an attempt to devour Luke Skywalker, recreating one of the most memorable moments from Return of the Jedi. Near the center of the layout there is also another animated desert creature, adding even more movement and dynamism to the environment.

The true masterpiece of the display, however, is undoubtedly the palace of Jabba the Hutt, where Cristina perfectly recreated the famous Rancor trap sequence. The entire mechanical system was designed by Diego Curcio, who created a perfectly synchronized setup in every detail: Jabba’s throne slides sideways, the floor grate opens, the gate holding the Rancor rises, and finally the massive beast enters the scene. Everything is accompanied by sound effects, creature roars, and lighting effects that transform the sequence into a continuous miniature show capable of captivating both children and adults alike.

Of course, the diorama is not limited only to its animated sections. By observing it carefully, visitors can discover many other iconic scenes from the saga, including the Tusken Raiders and the unmistakable Jawas’ Sandcrawler — complete with the small hooded inhabitants and their glowing yellow eyes — all recreated with remarkable attention to detail and perfectly integrated into the desert atmosphere of Tatooine.

To conclude the overview of the exhibitors present at the San Bart Bricks Party, of course I was there as well with two very different creations: the gigantic diorama “The Dragon’s Revenge”, built in approximately 650 hours of work, and my LEGO Ideas project “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

“The Dragon’s Revenge” is a diorama completely immersed in a fantasy atmosphere, though not set in the classic European Middle Ages, but rather in a world inspired by the Far East and Asian culture. The entire creation is characterized by the presence of numerous pagodas scattered throughout the landscape, including the main one, which stands well over one and a half meters tall and inevitably becomes the focal point of the entire display.

However, the true distinctive element of the build is the way the main pagoda itself has been represented. The entire structure rests upon a gigantic rocky base from which two enormous hands emerge, delicately supporting it on their palms, with slightly curved fingers as if they were protecting it. This scenic choice gives the creation a strong symbolic meaning and further enhances the mystical atmosphere suspended somewhere between fantasy and Eastern spirituality that defines the whole diorama.

Around it unfolds a world filled with details: blooming sakura trees, arched bridges inspired by medieval Japan, waterways, villages, and a spectacular parade of fireworks masters that helps bring movement and life to the scene. The goal was to convey a sense of harmony and wonder, alternating monumental architecture with smaller sections full of hidden details waiting to be discovered.

Completely different, on the other hand, is the LEGO Ideas project “Jack and the Beanstalk,” where I chose to represent the earthly world using the microscale technique. Everything located at the base of the diorama is intentionally built in miniature: houses, landscapes, and environments are all extremely tiny in order to emphasize even more the enormous magical beanstalk climbing toward the sky.

The gigantic green stalk rises upward through the clouds until it reaches the giants’ home suspended in the sky. At this point, the scale of the representation changes completely: the giants are portrayed using standard LEGO® minifigures, while Jack himself is represented using the official microfigure from the LEGO Ideas set 21315 Pop-Up Book, a choice that further emphasizes the dramatic size difference between the young protagonist and the enormous inhabitants of the castle above the clouds.

In addition, during Sunday’s exhibition I added a small personal extra: the creation I presented at the latest contest organized by the Facebook group LEGO Mercatino Italia, titled “Meditation Under the Sakura Tree.”

It is a relatively small build created within the contest regulations, which limited the surface area to 16x32 studs and the height to no more than 32 studs. Despite the reduced dimensions, I tried to condense as much atmosphere and detail as possible into the scene, creating a small enchanted place suspended between meditation and Eastern spirituality.

The build depicts a peaceful corner immersed in nature, featuring a pond fed by a stone fountain shaped like a gigantic carved face, from whose mouth water flows into the small lake below. Nearby stands a small pagoda, imagined as the training dojo of the ninja warrior seated in meditation at the center of the scene.

Dominating almost the entire diorama is the large sakura tree, whose branches and blossoms cover much of the environment, helping to create a calm and contemplative atmosphere. Even the background was carefully designed: in the secondary plane there is a small pagoda built on top of a rock formation, included to give additional depth to the scene and enrich the setting further.

The entire scene is set at sunset, and to recreate the fiery red sun I chose to use a rather unusual LEGO® element: the 4x4 dish printed with an orange slice, originally included in a LEGO® Christmas set released a couple of years ago. A small creative detail that turned out to be perfect for reproducing the visual effect of the setting sun and completing the poetic atmosphere of the creation.

With this, our journey through the creations, activities, and atmosphere that brought the San Bart Bricks Party 2026 to life comes to an end.

And if, in the future, you happen to receive an invitation from Marco Munì to take part in a new edition of the event, there is only one piece of advice to give: do not miss the opportunity.

Beyond the displayed creations, the activities, and the warm family-like atmosphere that can be felt throughout the entire festival, what truly makes this event special is its location. Exhibiting literally in front of the sea at the end of May means spending two days surrounded by that unmistakable holiday feeling that can already be strongly felt along the Ligurian coast. Between the sound of the waves, the scent of the sea air, and the sunlight accompanying the seafront until sunset, the San Bart Bricks Party becomes something far beyond a simple LEGO® event.

It is one of those weekends where passion, friendship, and relaxation naturally blend together, leaving everyone with the desire to return again the following year.