From the Greek Μουσεῖον (and then from the Latin Museum) derivation of Μοῦσα i.e. “Muse”, MUSEUM means “place dedicated to the muses”, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, protectors of the Arts. The evening started precisely from this clarification, provided by the exceptional doctor Silvia Sfrecola Romani, Art Historian, who oversaw the unprecedented visit to the Diocesan Museum of Velletri; guided only by a torch, the group of visitors made up of adults and children who also came from neighboring municipalities, were invited to discover a “different” side of this place, the pride of our territory.
In the rooms shrouded in darkness, the museum collections, illuminated by a dim light, came to life telling various and unknown stories of famous figures such as Federico II, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Gentile da Fabriano, who had a connection with our very ancient Velletri well narrated to a very attentive audience by the learned Sfrecola Romani. The baton was then passed to the Deputy Parish Priest Don Claudio who, also as an Architect, illustrated the structure of the Cathedral, its origins and its architectural evolution over the centuries.
Suggestive and imposing, the Cathedral Basilica of San Clemente made its golden frescoes stand out in the glow of the torches and allowed itself to be observed while the Deputy Parish Priest expertly spoke about it to us. Next, the descent into the Crypt, which preserves the relics of the Holy Martyrs Ponziano and Eleuterio, and which, in the dark, really managed to take us back in time. Well illustrated by Don Claudio, the remains of the medieval frescoes spoke to us of that dark and virulent time and of man’s need to find consolation and hope in these places of worship.
A special evening, a way to “exercise” culture and to enhance local treasures by offering a different point of view that opens up to new interpretations.
An even simple way of experiencing the common good which, on this occasion, allowed us to raise funds to be allocated to the creation of a tactile table representing the “Triumph of Galatea”, the work created by Raffaello Sanzio located at Villa Farnesina in Rome , an initiative of the Museum Association.
Present for the Velletri Host CA Lions Club were: Michela De Rossi, Service Representative, Past President Alessandro Ercoli and Fabrizio Battistini.
We sincerely thank: Silvia Sfrecola Romani, Scientific Coordinator of the Ecomuseum of the pleasant land – Velletri Museo Diffuso, the Velletri Diocesan Museum and Mihaela Lupu for the exquisite welcome, Don Claudio (Basilica Cattedrale San Clemente I PM), the Volunteer Association Museum – ODV and those who wanted to spend an unusual Saturday evening with us!
