Milan: People come here to adopt statues... Know about this trend and why it started

Milan is home to Italy's largest cathedral, the Duomo. It is an important historical heritage. It houses over 3,000 historical sculptures created by various artists over different periods. To preserve these unique examples of art, the Duomo launched a campaign called "Adopt a Statue."

This trend began a few years ago to preserve these centuries-old artifacts

Through this campaign, people adopt these statues and give them new life. Construction of the Duomo of Milan began in 1386 and was completed in 1965. Now, a campaign has begun to restore some of its centuries-old sculptures, which are crumbling. According to the South China Morning Post, a 15th-century statue that once stood outside the Duomo of Milan has found a new home.

This statue of a "bearded saint holding a book" was recently restored under the "Adopt a Statue" program.

Under this initiative, more than 3,000 statues housed in this historic church are given to adopters under an agreement, who pay for their restoration. These statues are then cleaned and repaired and given to donors for a period of time. They can then take them to another location and display them. After a certain period of time, they are returned to the Duomo.

People come here to adopt statues

These statues are hundreds of years old. Therefore, restoring it to its former glory costs a significant amount of money. The organization that manages the Duomo found a unique way to raise funds for these expenses and launched a campaign called "Adopt a Statue." This campaign was launched in 2020 by the centuries-old organization that oversees the Duomo's conservation. The statue is now on display behind a glass window at the headquarters of the transport company FNM in Cadorna Square, in the heart of Milan.

Campaign called "Adopt a Statue

This program allows donors, companies, or individuals to periodically display an ancient statue outside the Duomo under a loan agreement to raise funds for its restoration.

"Statues that would otherwise remain in our collection are restored and restored to their original beauty. In this way, they continue to tell the Duomo's story even in locations far from the monument," says Elisa Mantia, project manager of the program. "These agreements are initially granted for a period of one year and can be renewed."

Duomo Cathedral took 600 years to complete

Construction of the Duomo began in 1386, under the reign of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the then ruler of Milan, with the support of the city's archbishop. It took more than five centuries to complete. One of its bronze doors wasn't installed until 1965.

More than 3,000 historical artifacts are present

The American online travel agency TripAdvisor states that it took 600 years to build, being the largest church in Italy and one of the largest in the world. The vast collection of religious artifacts displayed inside is awe-inspiring. Visitors are amazed by the 3,000 statues adorning the Gothic-style exterior walls.

The Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, which oversees the cathedral's conservation, stated that funds were needed to restore the statues that had been kept there for centuries for maintenance or security reasons. Under this initiative, the "Adopt a Statue" campaign was launched.

Other statues adopted by various sponsors under this program include a 16th-century statue of David, a depiction of Samson and the Lion, and a statue of Saint Matthew the Apostle. However, the number of statues accepted has not been disclosed.

Duomo's recently adopted statue is covered in soot

The statue of the "Bearded Saint with a Book" was originally displayed outdoors. Aside from a black layer on its surface due to air pollution, it had no structural damage that would prevent it from being lent out. Mantia says this often involves only surface finishing or intervention with compresses or mechanical cleaning.

Summary

The marble used for the statues and the Duomo comes from the quarries of Candoglia, located in the Piedmont region of Italy. This stone has been used since the late 14th century under the supervision of the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo. In addition to being a symbol of Milan, the Duomo also symbolizes its history. Mantia says it's a monument that has grown along with the city