The first phase of heritage preservation work on the Basilica of St. John the Baptist, carried out thanks to the Monza Cathedral Foundation, has been completed. The philanthropic fund will be officially presented to the public on September 30, when future projects dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of the monumental complex will be outlined. The Foundation was established on February 26, 2025, within the Monza and Brianza Community Foundation on the initiative of President Giuseppe Fontana, with the goal of supporting the restoration, maintenance, and enhancement of the Basilica, gradually returning one of the community’s most important historical and artistic treasures to the public. The new fund is part of a well-established philanthropic network that, since 2000, has seen the creation of over ninety funds dedicated to supporting projects of collective interest.
The first project focused on the monumental “Quadroni” cycle—the large canvases located in the upper section of the central nave, dedicated to the Basilica’s Lombard origins, the figure of Queen Teodolinda, and the history of the Iron Crown. Painted between the late 17th century and the early 18th century, the ten canvases represent one of the most important pictorial cycles of the Lombard Baroque. Among the artists are Sebastiano Ricci, creator of the painting *Foundation of the Basilica*; Filippo Abbiati, who painted *The Dream of Theodolinda*,*The Apparition of Theodolinda and Saint Elizabeth to the Priest Francesco da Giussano*,*The Apparition of John the Baptist to Gian Galeazzo Visconti*, and *Charles V Refuses to Accept the Iron Crown*; Andrea Porta, creator of *The Handing Over of the Basilica’s Treasure*; Federico Bianchi, creator of *The Embassy of Gregory the Great to Teodolinda*; and Antonio Maria Ruggeri, who collaborated with Bianchi on *The Baptism of Agilulfo * and *Saint Charles Borromeo Receives Henry III*, and independently created *The Coronation of an Emperor*.
The project, entrusted to the Ilaria Bianca Perticucci Conservation and Restoration Studio, involved thorough routine maintenance aimed at improving the visibility of the works through the gradual removal of dust deposits that had accumulated over time. In addition to cleaning, the restoration provided an important opportunity for conservation monitoring. Thanks to the use of a lifting platform capable of reaching heights of up to sixteen meters, it was possible to examine the canvases up close for the first time, identifying any structural issues and establishing priorities for future scheduled conservation work.
The restoration of the Quadroni paintings marks the first step in a broader program promoted by the Foundation for the Cathedral of Monza. In the coming months, attention will focus on safety measures and maintenance of the Basilica’s roof, as well as the restoration of the ancient frescoes preserved in the attic, with the goal of ensuring increasingly effective protection of the entire monumental complex.
The next event is scheduled for September 30, when a press conference will be held in the Sala del Rosone of the Cathedral to officially present the Foundation for the Cathedral of Monza. During the event, projects already completed and future initiatives dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist will be presented.
“The Monza Cathedral Foundation was established with a clear vision: to foster a virtuous model of collaboration among institutions, citizens, and private supporters. Preserving the Cathedral is not only an opportunity for collective participation but also a responsibility,” stated Giuseppe Fontana, President of the Monza and Brianza Community Foundation and promoter of the Monza Cathedral Foundation. “We wanted to begin our journey with an initial intervention that is both symbolic and strategic: the large frescoes in the central nave tell the story of the Basilica’s and the city’s identity; caring for them means preserving a shared memory and making it accessible to future generations. Furthermore, the work carried out in recent months has also allowed us to gain fundamental knowledge for effectively planning future interventions. It is a methodical approach, based on prevention and long-term sustainability. Supporting the Monza Cathedral means investing in culture, identity, and beauty, creating a lasting impact for the entire community.”
"The Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Monza Cathedral, is an expression of a people’s faith and has accompanied the city’s origins and development. Its extraordinary history is a testament to the role Monza has played in Lombard, Italian, and European history and underscores the responsibility of the city, its citizens, and its many businesses for the future. Over time, the Cathedral has grown with the help of many civil and religious institutions, but today it needs new supporters to ensure the continuation of this tradition,” added Monsignor Marino Mosconi, Archpriest of the Monza Cathedral—Basilica of St. John the Baptist. “The Foundation for the Monza Cathedral was established as a providential opportunity to address this essential need, appealing to one of the most admirable human qualities: selfless generosity. Preserving the Cathedral’s heritage means undertaking a constant and dynamic commitment, one that can only continue with the concrete support of a community. It is a commitment that extends to everyone—so that citizens, the faithful from diverse backgrounds, and tourists alike may contemplate this immense material heritage and glimpse its even more extraordinary spiritual value.”
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| Restoration of the monumental Quadroni at Monza Cathedral has been completed, thanks to the Monza Cathedral Foundation |
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