Ferrara, restoration work finished at St. Paul's church, city pantheon

Restoration work has been completed in Ferrara at the Conversione di San Paolo church, among the oldest in Ferrara, which was involved in both the 1570 earthquake and the 2012 earthquake. Outside, the building site panels have been removed and the facade can finally be admired in its entirety. The building had been closed since the mid-2000s, well before the 2012 Emilia earthquake: however, the situation of the church of San Paolo was then aggravated by the injuries caused by the 2012 tremors. Now, after the end of the work under the responsibility of the municipality, final cleaning is being carried out inside the church, which is owned by the parish of San Paolo.

Dating back, in its first core, to the 10th century, the late Renaissance-era building is located at the corner of Corso Porta Reno and Piazzetta Alberto Schiatti, named after the architect who designed its rebirth between 1573 and 1611, after the 16th-century earthquake. It is considered the city’s pantheon as it houses the tombs of illustrious cultural figures, including the graves of poet Guarino Veronese, composer Luzzasco Luzzaschi, Alberto Lollio and Giovan Francesco de Grossi (known as Siface). The church, which has adjoining former Carmelite convent and Renaissance cloisters, is also known for the works that adorn it, by artists such as Bastianino, Girolamo da Carpi, Domenico Mona and Scarsellino.

The redevelopment and restoration of the church of San Paolo involved a double allocation, for an overall total of 3.8 million euros (3 million in ministerial funding from the Ducato Estense and 850,000 in regional post-earthquake funds). Under a specific agreement, in order to carry out the interventions, the Municipality of Ferrara was the contracting station. The works were completed on schedule and were carried out by the temporary grouping of companies composed of the firms Leonardo Srl and Lolli Raffaele impianti Srl of Bologna. The works were delivered on November 29, 2021. The interventions then started in January 2022. The design and direction of the works was supervised by engineer Giuseppe Carluccio (BCD progetti) assisted for the restoration of the decorative apparatus by architect Benedetta Caglioti.

The interventions focused on seismic improvement, insisting mainly in the roof structure and attic. The roof covering was redone, the exterior facades were restored, and the decorative apparatus of the entire church was restored, specifically on the vaults of the main nave, transept, apse, and part of the side aisles. New elements include two ramps to allow functional access for people with disabilities (one from the main entrance and one from Porta Reno near the apse) and upgraded lighting, now with LED spotlights, both inside and outside. By the end of February, the power company will provide the necessary power to light the church and heat it properly.

But the work does not end there. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage has awarded the Superintendence 600,000 euros (with funds from 2024) for the restoration of the valuable artworks and the side altars and altarpieces in order to once again house the paintings (immediately put in storage) that characterize the church.

“The church of San Paolo is a true artistic and architectural jewel of Ferrara, so we are happy to have concluded the work that will return it, as well as to the faithful, to the city,” explains Public Works Councillor Andrea Maggi. “The next goal of the municipal administration, in fact, is to show the community the interventions made. At the time of March we will do an extraordinary opening.”

“The basilica of St. Paul’s,” stresses Culture Councillor Marco Gulinelli, “is one of the oldest churches in Ferrara, and the completion of the post-earthquake works is the first fundamental step for its upcoming reopening. Afterwards, we will also be able to return to admire its splendid treasures, which are currently being restored and restored, thanks to a decisive intervention by Undersecretary Vittorio Sgarbi, whom I thank, in finding the sums needed for the restoration. A doubly happy moment because in addition to being a place of worship and tradition for the faithful, St. Paul’s is a true museum both for the decorations that adorn it and for its internal apparatus.”

Church of San Paolo in

Church of San Paolo in Ferrara

Church of San Paolo in Ferrara

of St. Paul in Ferrara, finished restoration work

Ferrara, restoration work finished at St. Paul's church, city pantheon

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