Up till the 30 September 2011, the splendid medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Abruzzo is hosting an exhibition of important art works lent by the Uffizi Galleries, Florence.
The exhibition, entitled Condivisione di Affetto (Shared Affection), symbolizes the ancient links that Santo Stefano di Sessanio, a feud of the powerful Florentine Medici family, maintained with the city of Florence, thanks to the local production of carfagna wool, which was an important source of income for the Medici state.
The initiative is part of a programme to aid the recovery of old villages of the L'Aquila area, which were devastated by the earthquake of 2009.
The exhibition includes a selection of works from the Uffizi collection, spanning some four centuries of art. Paintings by Titian, Federico Barocci, Giacomo Balla and Benvenuto Tisi, known as Garofalo, are on show in the town hall and other historic buildings, such as the old prison and traditional craft workshops.
Santo Stefano di Sessanio became known world-wide in 2004, thanks to entrepreneur Daniele Kihlgren, who began buying abandoned property in the village and converting it into tourist accomodation, creating a revolutionary albergo diffuso model, with rooms spread over the old historic centre. The model has now been imitated by numerous Italian villages, which risk falling into decay and abandonment.
Condivision di Affetto is open every day from 10.30-20.30.
For information: Tel. (0039)3472406954 www.comunesantostefanodisessanio.aq.it
