A lecture by Prof. Roberto Nardi, Centro di Conservazione Archeologica of Rome (CCA).
Event organized in collaboration with the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The historical and archaeological heritage of a region constitutes the cultural identity in which one or more peoples recognize each other. At the same time it represents one of the characteristic elements that distinguish one place from another, and that make it attractive and interesting to those who come from outside, the origin of the so-called cultural tourism, now practiced massively.
But cultural heritage is fragile, unique and irreplaceable: this is why to conserve it is not an option, it is an obligation and a priority. While the preservation of sites, parks, monuments and historic cities represents a burden for modern society, on the other, when assets are managed wisely and dynamically, it becomes a formidable opportunity for social support and economic development: clean, renewable and sustainable. The essential prerogative of this cultural process is the teaching of the profession and the opening of projects to the public for educational purposes.
The Centro di Conservazione Archeologica of Rome (CCA) operates according to these principles since 1982 in Italy and in the countries of the Middle East, reflecting an all-Italian tradition that draws its origins in the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro of Rome. From 1990 to 1998 the CCA was present in Israel with a series of restoration projects of some iconic monuments of the country, such as the Caesarea aqueduct, the Zippori mosaics, the Byzantine church of Mamshit, the great baths of the north palace of Masada and, to conclude, the wall paintings of Liscat Hamafaket, again in Masada.
At the same time as the restoration was carried out, the CCA was responsible for the formation of a new generation of conservators, which became the backbone of the newly established department of Conservation of the Antiquities Authority (Rashut Atiqot). The training was carried out according to the principles of respect for the original, in aesthetics, in the execution techniques and in the materials used, ie lime: this originated what was later defined by our own Israeli friends and colleagues, the “lime revolution”, a phenomenon which even today the conservators of the country can boast of.
After twenty years, the CCA has been recalled to Israel to launch a new challenge: “Open for Conservation”, a project designed to create in 4 years a generation of professionals able to open up conservation to the public and generate an instrument of economic development and social and cultural promotion.
Lecturer:
- Roberto Nardi received a degree in archaeology from the University of Rome and in conservation at the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro in Rome. In 1982 he founded the Centro di Conservazione Archeologica and he has directed more than 50 projects and training courses in 14 countries, including the Arch of Septimus Severus in the Roman Forum, the town of Zeugma in Turkey and the mosaic of the Transfiguration in the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai. From 1990 to 1998 he was involved in field projects in Israel, at Masada, Zippori, Mamshit, Caesarea. In 2007 he received the Aga Kahn Award for Islamic Architecture for the restoration of the Madrasa Amiriya in Yemen. In 2015 he received the Europa Nostra Award 2015, Jury and Public Choice for the conservation of the prehistoric sculptures of Mont’e Prama and, for the same project, the Best in Heritage Award 2016. In 2017 his project at the Monastery of Saint Catherine was awarded with the Europa Nostra Award. He is President of the ICCM Foundation. Roberto Nardi is professor at the Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione e il Restauro (former ICR) and at the American University of Rome.
Event in English.
Tuesday, December 10th, at 19:00
Italian Cultural Institute
Rehov Meir Rutberg 12 – Haifa
FREE ADMISSION
Reservation no longer available