The area of
Northern Lazio continues to surprise with the recovery of treasures lost for hundreds and even thousands of years. Thanks to the determination,
generosity and professionalism of local art historians, archeologists
and private groups who give financial and technical support, many ancient sites and lost works of art
have been recently recuperated adding to Italy's wealth of
art.
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| entrance dromos Etruscan tomb Norchia |
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| excavating Norchia |
At the
ancient Etruscan necropolis of Norchia,
in Vetralla, an equipe
of archeologists and volunteers with financial support from Trust
Sostratos of Lorenzo Benini
completed a second campaign of excavations bringing to light
about 11 pieces of funerary art including painted vases and bucchero ware datable from
the 4th to the 3rd centuries BC.
That these treasures have escaped the pick axes of tomb
robbers for two thousand years is incredible in itself. The area on which the necropolis of Norchia sits
is privately owned (a certain Signor Stelliferi) and will probably become a future archeological park similar to
the nearby privately owned Sacro Bosco
of Bomarzo.
In Soriano nel Cimino’s historic center
another equipe of local art
historians and restorers have brought back to light part of a 16th century fresco which had been hidden under layers of white paint in the tiny
Misericordia church located
in the shadow of the imposing Orsini Castle. A word of warning for Soriano: arrival and parking are difficult due to numerous narrow one-way streets and hidden parking lots.
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| one of the vases found in Norchia |
These ceramic
treasures are now being cleaned and restored
before being presented to the
public on September 13th in the Sala Regia of
Viterbo’s Palazzo dei Priori.
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| Simona Sterpa at the Soriano presentation |
Simona Sterpa
is one of the archeologists coordinating the
group of volunteers, including Luciano Proietti, Rudolfo Neri and Mario Sanna of Archeotuscia
who were on site digging by 6
a.m. before the August sun and heat made work impossible.
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| Francesca Ceci and Emanuele Ioppolo |
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| explaining the newly found fresco |
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| unveiling the fresco |
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| crammed in to the tiny chapel |
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| fresco fragment of Last Judgement |
The
presentation took place yesterday
in a nearby church, then the crowd moved over to the tiny Misericordia
chapel to watch the unveiling of
the long lost fresco.
Noisy
fireworks announced the unveiling and causing a
bit of panic (one woman threw
herself on the ground) but the rest of late afternoon went on seamlessly with a delicious buffet offered to
guests in a series of ancient rooms with
low beams reminiscent of a Venetian sottoportego.
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| sitting on the altar |
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| spindle fountain where tyrant DiVico was decapitated |
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| 16th century organ still needs repair |
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| view from Soriano over the Tiber valley |
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| peeking inside the Misericordia chapel |
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| The fresco is a represtation of the Last Judgement |
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| rich buffet |
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| low ceiling with ancient beams |
Copies of my books about the area are available in most museums and bookshops in the area. I mail out signed copies worldwide every week.
Check the books page on the website for reviews .
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Coming up:
In September - series of Enrichment lectures for passengers sailing on Silverseas luxury cruise from Venice to Dubronik and return
Visits in USA- Buffalo, NY and Boston areas
In October- "I nostri castelli-veri gioelli" illustrated presentation about the castles of N. Lazio for Archeotuscia in Viterbo's Prefecture.
Date to be announced. Copies of my books will be available at all these happenings.
