Community Raises €3 Million in Seven Months to Restore Santa Cristina Altarpiece
Three million euros raised in about seven months, through contributions from families, to fund the restoration of the altarpiece of the medieval church of Santa Cristina di Ceredello.
The initiative was launched by Giuliano Sala, a teacher at the middle school of Caprino, during the last school year, involving the more than 300 students attending the institution.
Precisely on the day dedicated to the saint (Monday, July 24), the restored painting was officially presented to the public, with great satisfaction from the teachers but especially the children.
Motivations and comments on the initiative
“We wanted to show that the school is an integral part of the territory and should act as an interpreter of the needs expressed by it, not merely use it as a tool for gathering didactic material,” declared Giuliano Sala.
The Municipal Administration also contributed to the funds needed for the restoration.
History and restoration of the Santa Cristina church
The Santa Cristina church dates back to approximately the 13th century.
“In the 1600s, the community of Ceredello, where the church is located, built a new altar,” recounts Erminio Signorini, restorer.
“At the same time, they commissioned a painter to create a new altarpiece to beautify it. The artist, in doing so, used a canvas already painted in the 1500s, depicting a Madonna enthroned with two saints. From the previous painting, he kept an angel, the Madonna’s dress, and a carpet. The rest has been completely repainted.”
The current altarpiece’s main theme is the rosary.
The Madonna, holding a rosary in her hand, cradles Baby Jesus, who also holds a rosary in his hand.
The saints depicted have become four: San Carlo Borromeo, San Francesco d’Assisi, San Domenico, and Santa Caterina da Siena, all dedicated to the veneration of the rosary.
Angles holding rose crowns, depicted in the painting, also allude to this theme.
Future projects
“Given the success we have achieved, we would like to continue with this initiative into the next school year,” says Sala.
“This time, the goal is to restore the entire church.”
The system that the middle school students will use to raise funds is the same that was already tested for the painting.
