Opens to the public in new splendor, the Cell of St. Thomas Aquinas al Complex of San Domenico Maggiore of Naples, thanks to the restoration and enhancement project promoted by the Friends of Naples Onlus Association together with Giuseppe, Giulia and Gabriella d'Aquino di Caramanico and the Museo Cappella Sansevero with the collaboration of the Friars of the Convent of San Domenico Maggiore and the Municipality of Naples.
Visitors, from Sunday, October 17, will be able to admire the renewed beauty of the small cell inside the Basilica where St. Thomas Aquinas lived for about two years, and where the relics and relics of the Saint are currently preserved.
The works, with careful analysis and evaluation and under the High Supervision of the Superintendence for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Municipality of Naples and the Historical and Artistic Heritage of Naples, have given the environment a new light and enjoyment: from the modernization of the lighting system, to the restoration of the entrance door and the painting of Francis Solimena representing the Saint, and also the recovery of the ancient gilded frames and wooden parts and the creation of the new display panels. To welcome visitors in the Cell the music written and composed by Saint Thomas himself.
The Complex of San Domenico Maggiore is one of the most important monuments in the historic center of Naples. Here lived and taught Thomas Aquinas, one of the most important thinkers in Western history, one of the main theological and philosophical pillars of the Catholic Church and a point of connection between Christianity and classical philosophy.
Since 2019, the site has been under the care of the Friends of Naples Onlus Association; the work project with the recovery interventions, despite the numerous difficulties due to the pandemic, were started in May 2020 and have just concluded: the lighting system, with the collaboration of the lighting experts of Studio Light, has been replaced and adapted to current technological standards, improving the use of the environment in order to enhance the works of art and relics inside the Cell; the painting of St. Thomas Aquinas by Francesco Solimena has regained its colors thanks to the restorer Karin Tortora and the contribution of Matilde Giliberti Lauro Grotto d'Aquino; the access door to the Cell has been restored and repainted with the ancient fake wood technique by Ernesto Signorelli and thanks to the generosity of Merribel Ayres; cleaning interventions have involved the ancient gilding that decorates the niche containing the Saint's shoulder thanks to the work of the craftsman Giovanni Buonocore; the companies Euromediterranea Mobili and Sorrentino contributed to the restoration of the wooden parts.
For a new and in-depth use of the site, exhibition panels have been designed, with text in Italian and English, accompanied by photographs that tell the story of the vicissitudes of the relics of Saint Thomas, created thanks to the contribution of the artisans Domenico Minini and Sansone Sicurezza, of Ippolito Tessuti and SIE Impianti.
The companies Del Core Restyling and Home Decoration provided assistance during all phases of the work.
The interventions carried out are the result of a virtuous collaboration between public and private operators united by the intent to take care of and enhance the immense historical and artistic heritage of Naples.
The inauguration ceremony of the Cella will be held Saturday October 16 and will be broadcast live on the Friends of Naples Onlus Instagram channel – www.instagram.com/friendsofnaples/channel/ – The program includes at 17.00:18.00 pm a “Conversation on Saint Thomas Aquinas” with Professor Giovanni Ventimiglia, Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Lucerne, considered one of the world’s leading scholars of the Saint’s thought and life. Following, at XNUMX:XNUMX pm, the Holy Mass officiated for the occasion by HE the Archbishop of Naples Domenico Battaglia.
The Cell of St. Thomas can be visited in the DOMA museum circuit, every day from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
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