Press Releases

Yesterday evening, the Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, and Giuseppe Gola, CEO of Acea, inaugurated the new artistic lighting system of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere. The event was also attended by the parson of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Don Marco Gnavi, the President of the Community of Sant’Egidio, Marco Impagliazzo, the Creative Director of Maison Gattinoni, Guillermo Mariotto, and member of Accademia dei Lincei and Art Historian Alessandro Zuccari. The Band of the Local Police of the City of Rome performed traditional Roman music.

The project, fruit of the collaboration between the City of Rome - Simu Department and Acea, was carried out by the multi-utility following the recent restoration of the Basilica and involved the installation of 51 state-of-the-art LED projectors positioned in order to highlight the architectonic features of the facade, the portico, its precious mosaics and the bell tower, now illuminated on every side for the first time. The tone of the lights, warm and with high color rendering, was devised specifically to blend in with the atmosphere of the century-old neighborhood of Trastevere. The lighting installation has a sophisticated digital control system connected through Bluetooth, which allows to adjust the intensity of the individual projectors to valorize each architectural element. The installation includes an innovative pole designed by Acea that supports 9 lights pointing directly at the facade and the bell tower, reducing the visual impact on the artistic context of the piazza.

Thanks to this project – carried out in compliance with the guidelines of the Special Superintendency for the Archaeological Heritage of Rome and the Superintendency of the Capital, in collaboration with Roma Tre University and the Community of Sant’Egidio – the Basilica can now be admired at night and, combining artistic sensitivity and technology, it contributes to the renovation of the piazza opposite the church and one of the most renowned areas in the Capital.

“Rome is shining new light on its most significant monuments – said the Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi. Thanks to Acea’s collaboration, the plan to renew the lighting systems that illuminate the Capital’s amazing monuments and buildings is proceeding with greater intensity.

The aim is to add value to the city by protecting and exalting its artistic and architectural heritage. We want to make sure that, even at night, everyone from citizens to tourists, can enjoy the walks and places that make Rome a unique city.

After the Old Town of Ostia Antica and the renewed lighting system that illuminates the Castle of Julius II, the renovation plan continues with the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, whose amazing frescoes and mosaics, recently restored, will now shine in a completely new light. The project is about using state-of-the-art technology to take care of the historic value of places and buildings, combining history and innovation in the heart of Trastevere”.

“Acea - said CEO Giuseppe Gola – is carrying out an important artistic illumination project focused on the historical heritage of the Capital City, with which Acea has had a strong bond for over a century. The new lighting system of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere brings value to an important historical and architectural site, combining technological innovation and energy-saving solutions, thanks to the use of LED lamps. This contributes to exalting the beauty of the monument and adds value to the public space around it”.

The most recent projects carried out by Roma Capitale and Acea include Castel Sant’Angelo, the dome of the Great Synagogue, the Basilicas of Saint John Lateran and Santa Maria Maggiore, and Piazza del Campidoglio.