[CPProt.net] Italy shows heritage-saving heroics. Rome exhibit reveals Italian restoration work around world

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Italy shows heritage-saving heroics


 Rome exhibit reveals Italian restoration work around world 
(ANSA) - Rome, November 11 - A new show here pays tribute to the work
Italy's skilled and frequently fearless restorers carry out in defence of
humankind's cultural heritage .

A fascinating display of videos, photographs and archaeological finds at
Rome's Vittoriano complex reveals the results of Italian projects in 15
countries .

"Italy is a leader in the restoration sector, something which enhances the
nation's prestige," said Giuseppe Proietti, head of the Culture Ministry's
Research, Innovation and Organization Department .

"The exhibition was designed to illustrate some examples of Italian
restoration work around the world, which has taken place with the benefit of
advances made in the science of conserving monuments and art.". The
programmes showcased range from those performed at ancient Roman sites in
Libya, to others on the far side of the globe, in places like China's
Forbidden City - the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties for five
centuries. Visitors can also see how Italian restorers have, in some cases,
braved war zones and risked their lives to do their job .

Special attention is given to the vital role Italy has played in helping
protect archaeological treasures in post-war Iraq .

A team of Italian archaeologists helped the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad
sort through its looted collection of ancient artefacts and establish the
extent of the damage .

They also photographed and catalogued all remaining art works .

At the exhibit's inauguration, Proietti pointed out that Italian experts are
now training Iraqi staff at the National Museum in Baghdad, thanks in part
to money raised by the recent Paul McCartney concert in Rome at the
Coliseum. Space is also devoted to the work Italian archaeologists have been
doing with Iraqi colleagues at Nineveh, the capital of the ancient empire of
Assyria. Here they have managed to uncover and restore some splendid pieces
that are over 2,500 years old. Furthermore, there is evidence of the work
other brave Italian art experts have performed at the Kabul Museum in
Afghanistan and a look at the 400,000-euro project to restore part of the
ancient city of Bam in Iran. Bam was devastated by an earthquake in December
2003 which claimed 40,000 lives .

Another section of the show focuses on the design of a new archaeological
park in Carthage, Tunisia. The exhibition also enables visitors to see the
technical challenge involved in repatriating the precious Axum obelisk to
Ethiopia earlier this year .

The 160-tonne, 24-metre-tall obelisk, believed to be some 1,700 years old,
was taken from Axum in 1937 by the invading army of Fascist dictator Benito
Mussolini, who was eager to make up ground on the European imperial powers .

Italian authorities had trouble finding an aircraft able to carry the three
massive blocks of the obelisk back home. In the end, they resorted to the
Antonov, the world's largest civilian cargo plane .

A special runway was built and radar installed for the plane to land safely
at Axum 200m above sea level and some 800km north of the Ethiopian capital
Addis Ababa .

The exhibition runs at Rome's Vittoriano until December 18 .

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