ART news

ROME RESTORES BORROMINI'S S. IVO ALLA SAPIENZA

The Roman church of S. Ivo alla Sapienza, a masterpiece of Baroque archiecture by Francesco Borromini, has undergone the first phase of a major restoration and safety project following earthquake damage five years ago. The special superintendence of Rome is overseeing the restoration of the magnificent church complex designed by Borromini between 1643 and 1660 for the city's ancient La Sapienza University. The restored areas include Borromini's longinaccessible corridor linking Palazzo della Sapienza with Piazza S. Eustachio, as well as many rooms including the great hall of the Alessandrina Library. The second phase of the works is underway, with funding earmarked for the restoration of the church interior, in a project that began after structural damage was caused by the 6.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Norcia in Italy's central Umbria region on 30 October 2016. Rarely opened to the public, S. Ivo is today home to state archives of Rome and is located on Corso Rinascimento, close to the Italian senate, near Piazza Navona. Borromini based his unique geometrical design around the cramped 16th-century cortile, or courtyard, designed by Giacomo della Porta, employing concave and convex surfaces in his designs which also feature decorative elements linked to the three popes under which the building was constructed. These included the bees of Urban VIII Barberini, the dove of Innocent X Pamphili and the stars of Alexander VII Chigi.

S. Ivo alla Sapienza

ROME'S ALL NEW CINEMA TROISI REOPENS

In an age when many cinemas are closing, hampered by streaming platforms and covid restrictions, Rome is bucking the trend. A refurbished, state-of-the-art Cinema Troisi opened its doors on 21 September in the Trastevere district with the Italian premiere of the 'body horror' thriller Titane. Behind the ambitious venture are the Ragazzi del Cinema America, the collective of young cinema aficionados best known for organising free outdoor movie screenings in the summer, both in Piazza S. Cosimato and in the outskirts of the city. Their latest project has seen them invest €1.5 million in refurbishing Cinema Troisi, named after the late, muchloved Italian actor Massimo Troisi, star of Il Postino. According to Variety, the association obtained the funds from "a combination of national and local government grants and sponsors" and received a 10-year lease on the city-owned building by winning a public tender. Valerio Cocci, the collective's president, told Variety that the cinema will have "a multi-programming schedule showing four different films a day, including thematic retros, presentations, and children’s workshops.” The programme will also include films screened in their original language with Italian subtitles. Located on Via Girolamo Induno 1, the movie theatre is equipped with the latest cutting-edge technology too, including 4K and a Dolby 7.1 surround sound system. There is also be a study room with free wi-fi, open around the clock, and a rooftop terrace that will be used for events. In a smart branding move, the cinema's 300 seats will be the same maroon colour as the t-shirts worn by the collective and their many fans.

Andy Devane