#Museodellaceramica di Savona [VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY]

Situated at the heart of the historic centre of Savona, alongside the Cattedrale dell’Assunta and the Cappella Sistina, two historical buildings, Palazzo Gavotti and Palazzo del Monte di Pietà host the collections of the Museo della Ceramica

Palazzo Gavotti

This prestigious mansion, town hall in the 19th century, city library in the 20th century, now finally home to the Pinacoteca Civica di Savona, was built on a Medieval structure. The Gavotti family donated the building to the charity Opera Pia di Nostra Signora di Misericordia. 

From 1861 to 1934, Palazzo Gavotti served as the town hall of Savona; during this period, a new façade and other works opened a passage between Via Pia and the square Piazza Chabrol, thus linking the Medieval heart of the town centre to the new areas of the city. 

Today, thanks to the Museo della Ceramica, the palace has become the great entrance of a unique museum exhibition.

Palazzo del Monte di Pietà

Constructed in the Middle Age in order to serve as private residence, in 1479, Pope Sixtus IV, born from a noble family of Savona, decided to transform it into the Monte di Pietà, which now displays six centuries of stunning ceramic art. In a wing of the palace dating from the 15^th century, frescoes by the painter Lorenzo Fasolo are still preserved, like  the Angelo Annunziante, La Pietà, La Madonna Annunziata and the beautiful Madonna della Misericordia.

The museum covers four floors of the Palazzo del Monte di Pietà.

The exhibition shows the ceramic artworks already owned by the Pinacoteca Civica, among these, a refined pottery set formerly belonging to the ancient Ospedale San Paolo (Saint Paul Hospital), the Nena and Maternità created by leading Italian sculptor Arturo Martini, the kit of albarelli and medical jars of the apothecary shop Cavanna based in Genoa. A section also dedicated to contemporary art includes the prototypes of the works presented by major contemporary artists and designers 

The exhibition starts on the second floor, with the famous saucer Il Ratto di Europa (1721), a rare example of the work of the painter Gio Agostino Ratti, born in Savona and subsequently appointed as one of the most influential representatives of the Ligurian majolica style of the 18^th century. Under the vaults painted by Bartolomeo Guidobono with its Il Carro del Sol, we find a collection of Baroque historiated ceramic objects.

In another hall, panels decorated with azulejos and laggioni from the 15^th and 16^th century are displayed, leading to the ancient equipment of the Genoa-based apothecary shop Cavanna.

The third floor of Palazzo del Monte di Pietà hosts the equipment of the apothecary of the Ospedale San Paolo di Savona.  In adjoining rooms, a collection of artworks dating from beginning of the 20^th century explores the evolution of the works among the manufacturers of Savona and Albisola during that period, ranging from Art Déco and Rationalism to Futurism.

An area is also dedicated to artists who worked in Savona and Albisola in the second half of the 20^th century.

The fourth floor, focuses on innovation and technology and houses the surprising works of more than 30 internationally renowned artists and designers. Here you can admire masterpieces of fireclay, such as Nena, Maternità by Arturo Martini,and two Ballerine by Agenore Fabbri.

The tour proceeds to the first floor of the building, where artworks concerning the theme of religious devotion can be found, like the Madonna della Misericordia by Beato Botta, and the Presepe made by ceramist Antonio Tambuscio. Two sections of this floor focus on pottery and furnishing pieces.

The last part of the tour of the Museo della Ceramica focuses on the multimedia tools designed by physicist Paco Lanciano. Through evocative images and sounds, a quadrasphere narrates the wonderful tale of the history and evolution of ceramics in the Ligurian area.

Opening hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
10.00 a.m.– 13.30 p.m.
 
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
10.00 a.m.– 13.30 p.m.
15.30 p.m. – 18.30 p.m.
 
Sunday and public holidays
10.00 a.m.– 13.30 p.m.

Read also our former article

source: http:www.museodellaceramica.savona.it