"The Vision of Saint Prospero" Shines Again at the Diocesan Museum of

"The Vision of Saint Prospero" shines again at the Diocesan Museum of Reggio Calabria

The painting The Vision of Saint Prospero by Cirillo Manicardi (1910) is back on display at the Museo Diocesano Monsignor Aurelio Sorrentino in Reggio Calabria. After being rediscovered and recovered, the work underwent a conservation treatment that brought previously hidden details and figures back to view.

The restoration, funded by the Credem group, revealed pictorial elements that emphasize the work's symbolic meaning: Saint Prospero kneeling amid the rubble of the city after the 1908 earthquake, and ethereal figures that represent the historical bond between the communities of Reggio Emilia and Reggio Calabria.

• Artist: Cirillo Manicardi (1910)
• Work: The Vision of Saint Prospero
• Where: Museo Diocesano Mons. Aurelio Sorrentino — Reggio Calabria
• Recovery: carried out in 2021 by the Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit
• Restoration: supported by the Credem group
• Return event: 17 April 2026

The altar painting had been commissioned in 1910 by Monsignor Emilio Cottafavi for the church dedicated to Saint Prospero as an expression of relief and memory following the 1908 earthquake. After decades during which the work was lost to public view, it returned to the diocese in 2021 and is now accessible in its restored condition.

The work's return was marked by a symposium discussing its historical and social significance and the collaboration between ecclesiastical and civil institutions in recovering and preserving cultural heritage. For visiting hours and access details, please check the museum's official channels or contact the museum directly.