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Czech Rep.: Italians' chapel restored to ancient splendour
In Prague, thanks to Culture Ministeries of both countries
20 June, 10:02
(by Marco Patricelli)
PRAGUE - The portal for Italians in Prague, which used to
lead to the mysteries of faith with the sound of Dante's
language, has remained barred for 17 years due to the
degradation of the "Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin
Mary", aka Italians' Chapel.
Dating back to the end of the sixteenth century, this place is a driver for the Italian presence in the Kingdom of Bohemia, tied to the "Congregation of the Virgin Mary" known as the Italian Congregation, a community of skilled traders and construction workers since 1573 in the capital during the kingdom of Rudolph II.
The renovation of the precious Romanesque building, located at the heart of Prague (just a few steps from Charles Bridge) costed about one million euros, and the restoration was possible thanks to the Italian Foreign Ministry, the Czech Culture Ministry, the city of Prague, the Greek Catholic Church (manager of the building) and Italian and Czech private sponsors (including Siad, Brembo, Generali and Ahrcos, a company specialising in restoration with innovative techniques under the direction of Alessandro Battaglia).
The solemn opening ceremony took place on Thursday 22 June 2017 at 3pm, attended by Italy's culture minister Dario Franceschini, Czech Republic's culture minister Daniel Herman and Archbishop Dominik Duka, Cardinal of Prague. Then, at the Italian Cultural Institute, the opening of the exhibition "The Italian Congregation in Prague - A century-old history", on the occasion of the fourth centenary of the Baroque Chapel of the Institute. The building was designed according to a project by an Italian architect (perhaps by Ottavio Mascarino, built by Domenico Bossi) and made by skilled Italian artisans, while the decorations were completed in 1606 and the frescoes in 1736 , made by Giovanni Pietro Scotti.
The Chapel shows the Italian presence in the Caput Regni, a symbol of a century-old relationship that has found new vigor.
For this reason, both the Italian Embassy and the Institute of Culture, represented by ambassador Aldo Amati and director Giovanni Sciola respectively, committed themselves to carrying out a renovation that was tried several times in the past.
An historic heritage that was restored to all its ancient splendour, bringing back the Italians' Chapel(or St. Charles Borromeo) into the cultural system of Prague, at a time when the presence of Italians on the shore of the River Moldava is constantly growing.
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Dating back to the end of the sixteenth century, this place is a driver for the Italian presence in the Kingdom of Bohemia, tied to the "Congregation of the Virgin Mary" known as the Italian Congregation, a community of skilled traders and construction workers since 1573 in the capital during the kingdom of Rudolph II.
The renovation of the precious Romanesque building, located at the heart of Prague (just a few steps from Charles Bridge) costed about one million euros, and the restoration was possible thanks to the Italian Foreign Ministry, the Czech Culture Ministry, the city of Prague, the Greek Catholic Church (manager of the building) and Italian and Czech private sponsors (including Siad, Brembo, Generali and Ahrcos, a company specialising in restoration with innovative techniques under the direction of Alessandro Battaglia).
The solemn opening ceremony took place on Thursday 22 June 2017 at 3pm, attended by Italy's culture minister Dario Franceschini, Czech Republic's culture minister Daniel Herman and Archbishop Dominik Duka, Cardinal of Prague. Then, at the Italian Cultural Institute, the opening of the exhibition "The Italian Congregation in Prague - A century-old history", on the occasion of the fourth centenary of the Baroque Chapel of the Institute. The building was designed according to a project by an Italian architect (perhaps by Ottavio Mascarino, built by Domenico Bossi) and made by skilled Italian artisans, while the decorations were completed in 1606 and the frescoes in 1736 , made by Giovanni Pietro Scotti.
The Chapel shows the Italian presence in the Caput Regni, a symbol of a century-old relationship that has found new vigor.
For this reason, both the Italian Embassy and the Institute of Culture, represented by ambassador Aldo Amati and director Giovanni Sciola respectively, committed themselves to carrying out a renovation that was tried several times in the past.
An historic heritage that was restored to all its ancient splendour, bringing back the Italians' Chapel(or St. Charles Borromeo) into the cultural system of Prague, at a time when the presence of Italians on the shore of the River Moldava is constantly growing.
