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The double project, enriching the cultural heritage of the city of Siena was presented today at the Santa Maria della Scala Museum Complex, in the presence of Mayor Luigi de Mossi, Chief Operating Officer of Acea Giovanni Papaleo and the CEO of AdF Piero Ferrari.

Exactly at the end of 2021, a double project enriching the cultural heritage of the city of Siena – the digitalisation of the Gospel Book (Evangeliario), the laser detection of the Bottini, and the restoration of the Fontebranda fountain – has been completed.
That is what has been achieved by the Municipality of Siena, thanks to the help of Acea Group, which covered the entire cost of both projects. The initiatives have been presented this morning, Thursday 16 December, in the presence, among others, of Mayor Luigi De Mossi, Acea Group’s Chief Operating Officer Giovanni Papaleo, and CEO of AdF Piero Ferrari.

“Two projects of significant relevance – said Mayor Luigi De Mossi. On the one hand, the already diverse and important heritage of Santa Maria della Scala is further enriched. The Gospel Book, in fact, is “returned” to the old hospital in a new guise, thanks to the collaboration and precious work of the Biblioteca Comunale degli Intronati. On the other hand, the work performed on the Bottini, which are another inestimable good for their value and history, will allow us to carry out projects to preserve and restore two relevant portions of the aqueduct in Siena, as the Bottino Maestro di Fontegaia and the Fontebranda fountain. I would thank Acea Group for its contribution and sensitivity in supporting such an effort into the cultural sector.”

“We are honoured – said Chief Operating Officer of Acea Group Giovanni Papaleo – to have contributed to the digitalisation of the Byzantine Gospel Book, the 3D mapping of the Bottini di Siena, and the restoration of the Fontebranda fountain, symbolic sites of this city which create a network of ancient underground aqueducts. Their history revolves around water, something that a utility in the water sector feels as a part of its DNA. By doing so, the Group testifies for its commitment in favour of the enhancement of the historical heritage of the territories where it operates, in synergy with its subsidiary companies, and in a fruitful collaboration with local administrations.”

In particular, the activities financed by the contribution of Acea Group focused on two projects of significant relevance: the digitalisation of the Gospel Book, the laser detection of the Bottini and the restoration of Fontebranda.
For the Gospel Book, a precious Byzantine lectionary dating back to the second half of the 11th century, a full digitalisation and a photographic campaign in high resolution were realised respectively by the photo reproduction laboratory of the Biblioteca Comunale degli Intronati, and by the company Haltadefinizione, in Modena. The final result shows the Gospel Book in its new display, in the Santa Mara della Scala Museum Complex, provided with a multimedia device which will make it entirely accessible thanks to 3D technology. People will leaf all the pages of the volume and browse through the images, discovering the particular features of the extraordinary decorations of this work.
As far as the Bottini are concerned, the main works consisted in the mapping of the section of the Bottino Maestro di Fontegaia – standing on the territory of Siena – and the drafting of the project proposal for works of restoration and recovery of the Fontebranda fountain.
Finally, the third work carried out concerned the securing of the section of the Bottino Maestro di Fontegaia, with the aim of making it accessible for visits: specifically, the section between the entrance in Piazza del Campo and the exit in the area of the Biblioteca Comunale degli Intronati.