The project involves the restoration of the murals in the room known as the "Cinema Room," which was once the refectory of the Convent of San Francesco di Paola, now part of the Ruggero Settimo Barracks in Palermo. The 16th-century building has undergone transformations over time: after the suppression of religious orders, it became a barracks, the refectory was converted into a theater, then a cinema, over time losing the visibility of the original decorations, which were covered by various layers of paint.
The project aims to uncover, preserve, and enhance a 17th-century pictorial cycle discovered on the back wall of the room, featuring three scenes from the life of Jesus: the Wedding at Cana, the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, and the Sinner Washing Jesus' Feet. The paintings are in fair condition but have numerous gaps, damage, and alterations due to time and successive layers of paint.
The planned activities include disinfection with biocidal agents, removal of overlying paint and surface deposits, filling or micro-filling of loose plaster with lime putty mortar, watercolor reintegration of the gaps, color revision of the edges, glazing, general cleaning, and conservative restoration of the frescoed surfaces to restore legibility and visual continuity.
The work is not merely aesthetic in nature: it has historical, artistic, and civic value because it allows us to recover a previously hidden and little-known testimony to Palermo's sacred and convent pictorial heritage, strengthening the bond between community, religious memory, and cultural identity. Furthermore, it makes a public asset often used institutionally accessible, promoting cultural access and guided tours.
The completion of this project will give new splendor to the Cinema Hall and will be an important step in the overall enhancement of the Ruggero Settimo Barracks as a cultural center, restoring to the public a significant part of the city's artistic past.
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