The final return of the two Riace Bronzes to the Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria was hailed as a magnificent Christmas present for art lovers worldwide. The museum had been closed for restoration since 2006, with the Bronzes, the stars of its collection housed temporarily in Palazzo Campanella, seat of the regional Calabrian government.
The two Greek statues, found lying on the seabed off the Calabrian Ionian coast by an amateur deep-sea diver in 1972, attained instant celebrity status as major examples of Greek art, with possible attribution to either Phidias or Polycleitus.
The Reggio Calabria museum, designed by Marcello Piacentini and built in 1937-39, was considered revolutionary in its day. The long restructuring project, rendered necessary after years of neglect, includes the roofing over the inner courtyard with glass panels, new use of the exposition spaces and the installation of temperature control and air filter systems, as well as specially designed earthquake shock-proof bases for the two statues. The total cost of the work amounted to 32 million.
Architect Paolo Desideri, who also remodeled the Tiburtina railway station of Rome and restored the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, also in Rome, commented with satisfaction on the completion of the work, which had been included in the list of projects connected with the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy. A month earlier than originally estimated, the Bronzes have been installed in their new state-of-the-art hall. Visits are restricted to 20 people at a time, every half hour.
http://www.archeocalabria.beniculturali.it/archeovirtualtour/
