Since when last April 13th it returned to the column in the square of the same name, the statue of Sant’Oronzo is at the center of controversy due to its dissimilarity to the original. And now it has also ended up at the center of a complaint from Codacons which, in addition to bringing the matter to the attention of Anac, has formally requested access to the documents from the Municipality, warning it – together with the company responsible for copying, the Superintendent and the Department of Cultural Heritage of the University of Salento – at «reconstruction of the statue at the expense of the Fonderia Nolana del Giudice company and the officials in charge of the control on the correct creation of the faithful copy of the statue in question”.
Lawyer Ursini: «Citizens feel cheated»
«Saint Oronzo – writes thelawyer Giuseppe Ursini, legal representative of Codacons – is a bad reproduction of an original, which was hospitalized and was waiting for a copy of the same dimensions, made in such a precise technique as to make it indistinguishable as happens in many places, from the original, vice versa, this does not happened”. «The reproduction is smaller than one metre. The city feels vilified for this copy – continues the consumers’ association – It is right that the sculpture is brought back to its original dimensions, it is right that it is hospitalized in a point close to the original statue, it is right that anyone who attempted a shortcut should be penalized in some way or make up for the mistake he made. Nanotechniques and nanotechnologies could allow an almost perfect copy with 3D.”
The differences with the original
Among the differences complained by Codacons (and by many citizens), in addition to those concerning the patron saint’s cheekbones, eyelids and nose, there are also those relating to the height and positioning of the right hand and the three blessing fingers. From here therehypothesis of “failure to control by the offices” as well as possible “tax damage”.
In addition to contesting the obvious discrepancy with the original statue, Codacons also intends to verify the process of entrusting the task of creating the statue, entrusted to the “Fonderia Nolana del Giudice”, as well as the costs incurred to create it – almost 200,000 euros – collected through the Art bonus toolwhich saw Banca Popolare Pugliese and the Lecce company “Ediltunnel” contribute 100,000 and 70,000 euros respectively.
