Annual report 2004 - Compagnia di San Paolo

estoration and historical-artistic subjects and art collecting promotion. With SiTI, on the other hand,
given its Research Centre nature, it was decided to share some specific projects on certain local
protected areas of cultural heritage, especially in Southern Italy. In line with both the past and the new
system of cooperation outlined above, in 2004 union to the Framework Programme Agreement was
confirmed concerning Cultural Heritage in the Piedmont Region. This is the basic tool for cultural
planning between both public and private institutions responsible for protecting the main historical
buildings in Piedmont. Parallel to this, support for the Turin Museum Programme has continued since
its start in 2000 and represents the sector’s main commitment not only in economic terms, but also in
organisation and management. Among the operative tools that the Compagnia uses, the Programmes
are the most complex and therefore, according to tradition, a chapter in this Report is dedicated
entirely to them. It seems appropriate to stress yet again that the integrated approach of public and
private action, the attention to the contexts monuments are placed into, the availability of useful and
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The Old Church of the Cemetery.
Detail of the fresco inside the Church
The Old Cemetery Church
of San Maurizio Canavese (Turin)
The Compagnia has overseen the protection of Piedmont’s
minor religious heritage for several years within the
“Cantieri d’Arte” call for proposal. Equally, and on a yearly
basis, specific resources are dedicated to an entire
regeneration project of a prestigious religious asset of
important historical interest. In 2004, with a grant of €
500,000, the Old Church of the Cemetery of San Maurizio
Canavese was selected.
This church was built in the 11th century
and presently has three aisles; the two side
ones are vaulted and the central one has
caissons: the apse facing east as in, firstly
Paleochristian, and then Romanesque,
tradition. The original structure was
subsequently altered mostly in the 16th
and 17th centuries, when the central nave
was raised and main and side altars were
built. The interior retains a precious cycle
of fifteenth century frescoes on the life and
passion of Christ, work of painters
Bartolomeo and Sebastiano Serra,
together with traces of yet other frescoes
still in good condition, under the
plasterwork. This grant meant that the
church’s decorative paintings could be
brought to light and some structural
restoration works done. The chance to take
on entire projects like this also made working on the
building site an unrepeatable opportunity to update
historical and artistic studies together with elaboration
methods and techniques. Lastly, the church’s restoration
and its placement in the Canavesana area are part of the
integrated development plan within an improvement
programme concerning the entire area. The initiative, in
fact, is the second stage of a wider restoration project
promoted by the Association of the Friends of Piedmont
Cultural heritage entitled “Via del Miracolo”. It goes
backwards through the historical-religious itinerary of the
miracle of Turin of 1453, and to which the Compagnia has
already guaranteed one of the first contributions by
restoring Turin’s Corpus Domini Church.