The Baths of Caracalla in Rome, one of the most imposing archaeological complexes of the ancient city, provided the setting for the celebration dinner marking the 32nd general assembly of EFC (European Football Clubs).
The event carried particular significance, as earlier that afternoon at Villa Miani, the organisation had unveiled its new name and identity, marking a milestone in its history. The dinner at the baths that followed featured live shows and performances. STS Communication was responsible for the full production of the event, from scenic design and artist coordination to the management of audiovisual content.
At the core of the lighting concept was the vision of lighting designer Sergio Cattaneo, whose artistic direction shaped every technical and scenographic decision.
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The brief presented a specific challenge: to illuminate a protected historic site using mid-sized IP65-rated LED wash fixtures, while achieving both uniform coverage and a strong sense of spatial depth, without impacting the monument. The initial planning phase identified a requirement for 120 units.
Working in close collaboration with the technical director of Lucidiscena, STS Communication’s technical partner, Cattaneo developed a more efficient approach. The result was a rig of 90 impression X5 IP Maxx units from GLP, a reduction of 25% compared to the original specification. Rather than compromising the design, this more streamlined approach enhanced it. Positioned at ground level throughout the venue, the 90 fixtures created a uniform, almost hypnotic architectural wash that gave the historic space both scale and presence.
The programming began in the studio ahead of the event, with Cattaneo working with precise timecode. On site, the design was further refined, with the fixtures connected via a redundant multimode fibre-optic ring ensuring reliable communication at all times. The impression X5 IP Maxx units delivered consistent colour rendering and reliable operation throughout the event, maintaining performance without issues in an environment where any failure would have been immediately visible.
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The final installation enhanced both the live performances and the setting itself, turning a corporate dinner in a 2,000-year-old monument into a genuine experience.
In a site as architecturally distinctive as the Baths of Caracalla, achieving this result with a more precise and optimised system made the impression X5 IP Maxx units not only the right technical choice, but also a demonstration of what a well-defined technical approach can deliver in even the most demanding and historically sensitive environments.
