Naples, the San Gennaro shrine is being revitalized: student restorers are at work at Porta Capuana.

Naples – The restoration of the Edicule of San Gennaro in Piazza Enrico De Nicola, in front of the church of Santa Caterina a Formiello, has been completed. The project, begun in May of last year, was unique: it was conducted as an educational project, involving third- and fourth-year students of the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage degree program at Suor Orsola Benincasa University.

An educational site in the heart of the city

The initiative was promoted by the rector of the Suor Orsola Benincasa University, Lucio d'Alessandro, in collaboration with the mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, the chief of staff Maria Grazia Falciatore, the UNESCO Historic Centre Office, and the Technical-Scientific Committee for the Management Plan of the UNESCO Historic Centre, chaired by Professor Alessandro Castagnaro.

The work was carried out with the Cultural Heritage and Monumental Buildings Department of the Municipality of Naples, directed by Fabio Ferriero, and supervised by the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Municipality of Naples, led by Superintendent Rosalia D'Apice, with the assistance of restorer Barbara Balbi.

Technical direction and scientific support

The restoration was directed by restorers Giancarlo Fatigati and Maria Rosaria Vigorito, with the support of other faculty members from the degree program. The working group also relied on the collaboration of the Department of Architecture at the University of Naples Federico II, specifically the Drawing and Surveying Chair coordinated by Professor Antonella Di Luggo, for the representation and assessment of the deterioration.

A symbolic monument for Naples

The Edicule of San Gennaro holds great symbolic value for the city. It is located in the ancient foundation nucleus of the "new city," dating back to the 5th century BC, near Porta Capuana, the main entrance to the city during the Renaissance. It stands in the churchyard of the Church of Santa Caterina a Formiello, next to the Dominican complex consisting of the church and cloisters, abutting the Aragonese walls.

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The monument was commissioned by the Deputation of the Chapel of San Gennaro to celebrate the Saint's intercession during the eruption of Vesuvius on August 2, 1707. Made of piperno stone and marble, designed by Ferdinando Sanfelice, it features a bust of the Saint by Domenico Antonio Vaccaro. The restoration is part of the historical-architectural redevelopment and enhancement projects promoted within the UNESCO Historic Center Management Plan developed by the City of Naples.

Field training and Third Mission

The single-cycle master's degree program in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at Suor Orsola Benincasa University, which qualifies students for the profession of restorer, is coordinated by Professor Pasquale Rossi and is part of the Department of Humanities directed by Professor Paola Villani.

Internships dedicated to the restoration of artistic heritage are part of the Third Mission and knowledge transfer initiatives promoted by universities. In this context, educational workshops represent an essential component of the curriculum, allowing students to directly engage with conservation and restoration projects on assets of significant historical and cultural value.