An unusual combination of archaeology and sweet-making is on show until the 6^th January at the Royal Palace of Quisisana at Castellammare, near Naples. A team of master confectioners from the Italian Confectioners' Club have created a series of life-size reproductions of frescoes from the ancient Campania city of Stabiae in a sugar and gelatine paste, coloured with vegetable dyes.

The exhibition also contains twenty paintings by artist Antonio Gargiulo, inspired by frescoes found in Stabiae and Pompeii, as well as a section entitled “Stabiae Unveiled”, illustrating the recent excavations carried out in the Stabiae area by the Archaeological Superintendency of Naples and Pompeii.

According to the Castellammare authorities, the exhibition is intended to provoke interest in the fate of the original 8,000 archaeological treasures from Stabiae, which Castellammare hopes to set  up as a permanent exhibition in the rooms of the Quisisana Palace.

Meanwhile, the sugar copies are drawing the crowds and it is planned to show the collection at the 35^th SIGEP Icecream & Confectioners' Fair at Rimini between the 18-22 January 2014.

 

Info: “Archeo Dulcis” runs till the 6^th January from Monday-Saturday 9.30-1 and 3-6 pm. Sun. 10-1.30. Free entrance.

Tel: (++39)081.8711334