The Church of San Francesco a Ripa Grande in the heart of Rome’s historic Trastevere district holds a unique place in the legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi. In anticipation of the eighth centenary of the saint's passing, Rome's Special Superintendency - led by Daniela Porro - has spearheaded a comprehensive restoration, diagnostic, and preservation project inside the sacred cell where Francis traditionally stayed during his arduous journeys to the Eternal City to meet with Pope Innocent III.
The meticulous conservation effort focused on fifty silver-foil reliquaries belonging to the Franciscan family, which had suffered from severe oxidation and corrosion, alongside the heavy wooden altar that houses them. Conceptualized and scientifically directed by art historian Alessandra Acconci, the project also incorporated advanced diagnostic testing on the icons of Saint Louis of Toulouse and Saint Anthony of Padua to better understand their material composition and execution techniques.