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106 new light projectors pointing at the church’s facades and its two bell towers add value to one of the symbols of the capital

Rome, 14 October 2019 – This evening, the mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General for the diocese of Rome and the President of Acea, Michaela Castelli, presented the new artistic lighting system of the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.

The project, an important step along the renovation path taken by ACEA across the territory to bring value to its rich heritage of history, art and monuments, was completed with the support of the City of Rome and the Infrastructure and Services Directorate of the Governorate of the Vatican City State.

The intervention on the Arcibasilica, the first and oldest of the largest Papal Basilicas, involved the renovation of the existing lighting system and the replacement of 106 light projectors strategically positioned to add value to the 18th century architecture of the main façade and the 16 statues above it. The work, completed by ACEA in just 10 days, also involved the northern façade of the Basilica, the two Medieval bell towers, the portico and the arcaded loggia with sacred image frescoes.

“With light and shade effects, the use of lighting can no doubt have an impact on the way that architecture is perceived and interpreted. In the case of sacred spaces, highlighting art details and facades can have a great emotional impact because the combination of architecture and light creates that link between the material and the spiritual world” said Mayor Virginia Raggi. “I wish to thank Acea because the project to light up the city's monuments, thanks to the constant work of different professional teams, has contributed – as already happened with the Campidoglio, Tempio Maggiore and Castel S. Angelo – to highlight the suggestive beauty of our Capital” concluded Raggi.

“It has been an honor for us to complete the artistic lighting project for one of the most prestigious and oldest religious buildings in the world – said the President of ACEA, Michaela Castelli. As part of the wide project to bring value to the historic and artistic heritage of the Capital we started a while ago, this intervention, aimed at highlighting the architecture of the Basilica, plays a very important role. ACEA was born in Rome over a century ago and there could be no better occasion to strengthen its bond with the city. Among the other artistic lighting projects recently completed we can mention, for example, the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum”.

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