Museums: Padula's Prior's Quarter shines again

The new exhibition of the Prior's Quarter was inaugurated today at the Certosa di San Lorenzo in Padula, in the presence of Massimo Osanna, Director General of Museums. The ceremony was attended by Michela Cimino, Mayor of Padula; Luana Toniolo, Interim Director of the Campania Regional Directorate of National Museums; Paola D'Agostino, curator and art historian; Carmine Pinto, historian and university professor; and Ilaria Menale, director of the Genius Loci project. The reorganization aims to enhance and make fully accessible the works featured in the exhibition "The Charterhouse Rediscovered" and the rooms of the Prior's Quarter, the private residence of the head of the monastic community. The exhibition, arranged chronologically, traces the complex's construction and decorative phases from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. Among the most significant works are the 13th-14th century capitals, the 15th-century decorated slabs, the marble sculptures by Domenico Guidi, and the monumental bronze tabernacle by Jacopo del Duca, recently restored and relocated. Of particular interest is the private chapel dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, the only space that retains traces of its original Baroque magnificence. The work included the restoration of sculptures, paintings, and furnishings, new lighting, and the integration of digital technologies. Thanks to a collaboration with the University of Salerno, a 3D scan and time-lapse video of the tabernacle were created. The tour is now enhanced with QR codes for multimedia and multilingual content, tactile maps for the visually impaired, a Digital Twin of the Certosa, and interactive screens with videos and in-depth information. The project is part of the "Genius Loci" program, funded by PNRR funds, dedicated to breaking down physical and cognitive barriers in museums and creating an integrated ecosystem of analog and digital solutions for increasingly inclusive use. The inauguration also saw the unveiling of the Certosa's new visual identity: a graphic design that blends historical memory with contemporary vision, inspired by the spiral staircase, Baroque decorations, and the dialogue between architecture and landscape.

The Certosa di San Lorenzo is open every day except Tuesdays from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm (last admission at 7:00 pm). Tickets are available online at padula.eu.