Bologna, 16 April 2024 – The art of the stonemason comes from very distant times. Since when, among the Bolognese Apennines, i Comacini Masters they left tracks still clearly visible today in the doors of homes made by them. To date, the profession remains more current than ever, with the awarding of the Municipal Designation of Origin (De.Co), for the protection and enhancement of knowledge, by the Municipality of Bologna and the Metropolitan City.
“The art of stonemasons, who lived for hundreds of years in the slopes of Montovolo, working the sandstone in the quarries, he was getting lost. Our goal, which I believe is noble, is that they are not forgotten and that their craft is passed on in the years to follow, and this recognition makes us proud” he explains Stefano Vanninipresident of the Fulvio Ciancabilla Aps association.
The art of stonemasonry has received the Municipal Designation of Origin
In fact, they have been working in this direction for some time, this is the sixth year of activity of the Stonemasons School included in the Pnrr project ‘Art flows in Campolo’, of which the Municipality of Grizzana Morandi it is referent. “An engaging course many young people who perhaps had never even worked stone before, and who now contribute to passing down this tradition” comments the mayor of Grizzana Morandi Franco Rubini, who then adds: “However, there is a technical problem of materials, until now the school has financed itself entirely, even in finding the sandstone, when it would be available from the landslides that often involve the area. At the moment, however, the technicians prohibit this procedure: it is important to enhance the school and the initiative, but a concession of the material would also be needed”.
After lace and puppet art, recognition came to sandstone sculpture
An art that has nevertheless been awarded an important recognition, De.Co was initially created to enhance local food and wine productsbut has been expanding in the last year also to transmission of knowledge: “The list of De.Cos connected to cultural, artisanal and artistic values is growing considerably, and in Bologna we are the only ones to have broadened the meaning of this certification” he explains Duccio Caccionihead of De.Co Bologna, who is echoed by the delegate for culture Elena Di Gioia, under whose administration the enrichment of the Denomination was approved: “We started with the recognition for lacethen we allocated two De.Co topuppet art for language and the artefact and now we valorise it Stonemason and sandstone sculpture. We want these certifications to be an expression of the identities of the past and future of our territory, to prevent artistic and artisanal heritage so rooted in our culture from being forgotten.”
Tags: centuryold sandstone sculpture
