Two works that for centuries were part of the religious life of the complex—a Crucifix and an altar reliquary from the late 18th century, crafted from gilded and silvered wood—return to tell the story of the Preceptory. Following their restoration, the two pieces will be unveiled to the public on Saturday, September 19, during an afternoon dedicated to sacred art, devotion, and music. The Crucifix and reliquary are part of a broader narrative: that of a Preceptory deeply connected to popular devotion and local life. Although there is currently no documentation to reconstruct their history with precision, they were undoubtedly intended for the church’s altars. Recent restoration work has restored the legibility of the pieces and highlighted the quality of their surfaces; cleaning revealed the silvering on the wood and the gold-leaf gilding found on both the figure of Christ and the reliquary’s ornamentation. Additionally, fragile sections and areas with fractures—particularly Christ’s arms and the ends of the cross—were structurally consolidated.
The project was made possible through the generosity of Maria Rita and Franco Panicco, who chose to support it in honor of their 60th wedding anniversary, celebrated in 2025. The restoration was carried out by the *Centro Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale*; representatives from the center—Stefania De Blasi and restorer Roberta Capezio (from the Wooden Furnishings Laboratory)—will be present at the event to discuss the work performed on the two pieces with the public.
The day begins at 3:30 PM with a guided walk focused on sacred art and popular devotion—a journey through the treasures of Ranverso designed to rediscover the bond between the Preceptory and the communities that have been part of its life over the centuries. From objects linked to the cult of Saint Anthony of Vienne to 17th-century terracotta figures dedicated to Saint Isidore, and from Defendente Ferrari’s celebrated polyptych—originally created as a votive offering against the plague—to Giacomo Jaquerio’s frescoes immortalizing the historic peasants' procession, the tour will explore works and images that tell the story of a faith deeply rooted in daily life and the rural world.
At 4:30 PM, the program will continue with official greetings, acknowledgments of the Panicco family, and a presentation of the two artworks and their restoration, featuring an accessible explanation of the techniques and processes used to restore the legibility of the Crucifix and the Reliquary.
The event will conclude at 5:15 PM with an organ concert performed by Luca Benedicti on the church’s organ.
Attendance at the presentation and concert is free. There is a fee for the 3:30 PM thematic tour: a contribution of €5, in addition to the admission ticket for the Preceptory.
INFO
Preceptory of Sant'Antonio di Ranverso
Location: Sant'Antonio di Ranverso, Buttigliera Alta
Admission ticket: full €5, reduced €4
Reductions are available for: children under 18, seniors over 65, groups of 15 or more
Children under 6 and Museum Pass holders: free admission
Reservations required by the previous Friday
Info and reservations (Wednesday to Sunday): 0116200603
