Workers will scale the scaffolding surrounding the 92-feet-high canopy each day to meticulously clean the dust and grime that has darkened the baldacchino.
VATICAN CITY The Vatican on Thursday unveiled plans for a yearlong restoration of the monumental baldacchino, or canopy, over the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, pledging to complete the work on Bernini’s masterpiece before Pope Francis’ big 2025 Jubilee. The price tag? About €700,000 ($770,000). The restoration and conservation project,…
The Vatican has revealed plans for a yearlong restoration of the monumental baldacchino over the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica.The restoration project, which will cost about $770,000, is funded entirely by the Knights of Columbus and involves the expertise of Vatican Museums' restorers.This marks the first comprehensive work on the 10-story tall baldacchino in
Bernini's baldacchino at the papal Mass on Jan. 1, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media
Rome Newsroom, Jan 11, 2024 / 13:15 pm (CNA).
The Vatican announced on Thursday that the soaring baldacchino over the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini 400 years ago will undergo a major restoration.
The ambitious restoration and conservation project, expected to be completed just before the start of the Catholic Church’s jubilee year in December, will require scaffolding to be set up around the canopy of the basilica’s main altar for nearly a year.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, has assured that papal liturgies will still be able to take place in the basilica amid the restoration work.
The 700,000 euro (about $768,000) restoration is being funded by the Knights of Columbus and will be carried out by the Vatican Museums’ expert art restorers.
Patrick Kelly, the head of the Knights of Columbus,