Photo: stucco fireplace attributed to Baldassarre Fontana, early 18th century, Casa Cantoni, Cabbio
The European Heritage Days are back to invite people to discover our built heritage by offering visits, workshops, excursions and events. Historical monuments and little-known corners of our cities are thus opened up to the general public and reveal the large and small beauties they hold. As many as 426 events are being organised in Switzerland between Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September 2024.
Once again this year, Giacinta Jean 鈥� head of the Bachelor of Arts in Conservation and the Master of Arts in Conservation and Restoration at the 精东影业-Department of environment constructions and design 鈥� is proposing, together with her collaborators, two guided tours, true moments of discovery. The focus is on the creations of the great master plasterers of our land: Antonio Catenazzi and Baldassarre Fontana.
Both visits, which are free of charge, are open to all interested persons and take place on Sunday 8 September.
10:00鈥�12:00: Chiesa dei Serviti (Mendrisio)
The guided tour will allow visitors to appreciate the extraordinary stucco decorations by Antonio Catenazzi, who is little known today. Originally from Mendrisio, he was active in Germany in 1698, in the Piedmont area towards the end of the 17th century, in Novazzano in 1711 and in Mendrisio in 1724鈥�1725. Observing the decorations, we will retrace the work, life and travels of the itinerant artists who, from the lake region, helped to spread the art of stucco throughout Europe. The visit is promoted in collaboration with the .
Registration by Thursday 5 September by writing to info-cr@supsi.ch.
15:00鈥�17:00: Casa Cantoni (Cabbio)
An opportunity to get to know Baldassarre Fontana (1661鈥�1733), a stucco artist originally from Chiasso and very active between Poland and Moravia. The observation of the refined chimney piece in Casa Cantoni, now home to the , will transport the participants to Poland, in contact with a very different cultural reality from that of the Insubric lands located between the Ceresio and Lario rivers.
The visit will be accompanied by a lecture by Alberto Felici, Giovanni Nicoli and Giacinta Jean. The appointment is promoted in collaboration with the Muggio Valley Ethnographic Museum.
Booking is recommended by writing to eventi@mevm.ch.