'Redecoration' of Eighteenth-Century Church in Italy causes Outrage
July 13 2021
Picture: finestresullarte.info
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The 'redecoration' of the eighteenth-century Chiesa di San Gennaro in Naples has caused public outrage in Italy. The now-redundant church, built in 1745, was redecorated by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava in a blue theme dedicated to the 'Light of Naples' and features a new stained-glass window and ceramics on the ceiling imitating stars. Critics in Italy have likened the newly decorated interior to a "an autogrill bathroom, McDonald's toilet, aquarium, waiting room of a dentist in Dubai, luxury boutique of a shopping centre..." and many other insults. In defence of attacks from conservation groups, supporters of the architect's work have said that the new scheme is not a restoration but a 're-treatment' and is naturally reversible.
