Czech Republic – The Chapel of Italians reopens in Bohemia, symbol of Italy’s presence

The count-down has begun for the conclusive phase in the restoration of the 16^th century Assumption of the Virgin Mary Chapel, an icon of the centuries-old presence of the Italian community in Bohemia, which has remained closed during the last decades because it was severely degraded. To celebrate the success of the restoration work, the Minister of Italian Cultural Heritage and Activities, Dario Franceschini, is in Prague today for the presentation ceremony with his Czech counterpart, Daniel Herman, Cardinal Dominik Duka, the Archbishop of Prague, the Mayor of Prague 1, Holdrich Lomecky, and many more authorities including the hierarch of the Byzantine Catholic Church, Ladislav Hucko and the director general of the Administration, IT and Communications of MAECI, Eduardo Brunetti. “By making it accessible after decades of neglect, the Chapel of the Italians has come back to life, recovering its ancient splendour, and will shortly go back to hosting new activities,” said Italian Ambassador in Prague, Aldo Amati. He went on: “I would like to thank all those who contributed to restoring the prestige and vitality of this jewel of Renaissance Mannerism, a tangible expression of the centuries-long friendship that has been binding the Italian and Czech people.” The Vlasska Kaple, also known as the “Chapel of Italians”, is property of the Italian State and it was built in the late 16^th century to meet the requests of the Italian community in Prague, which was quite numerous also then. Adjacent to the Klementinum Complex, the old Jesuit school, and today the seat of the National Library, the Chapel is on Karlova Road, in the Old Town, right across from Charles Bridge. The presentation of the state of progress in the restoration work on the Vlasska Kaple, is held concomitantly to the 400^th anniversary of the consecration of the Baroque Church of Saint Carlo Borromeo, another landmark of the Italian presence in Prague, situated on the left bank of the Moldau River, in the Mala Strana District, in the architectural complex which now hosts the Italian Cultural Institute. It will be precisely the Italian Institute, as director Giovanni Sciola announced in a meeting with the press, that will host the second stop of Minister Franceschini’s visit to Prague for the opening of the exhibition entitled “The Italian Congregation in Prague. A Story Centuries Old”, when precious archive documents will be displayed to the public for the first time.