BUCHAREST

The Italian Church in Bucharest is a property of the Italian State. Architects and workers painted its arcs and cupola on dry walls( or al fresco). It is the only worship place where you can find an altar made from a single stump. The magnificent painting in the altar represents a great tree. On its branches will see churches from Italy. The king Vittorio Emmanuel III, the Pope payed for the building. It was ready in 1916. The architects Mario Stoppa and Giuseppe Firaboschi made the plans. Antonio Mantica took care of the Italian Church in Bucharest. Unfortunatelly, in 1950 communists forced him to leave Romania. Later, they even sent his successor, Clemente Gatti to jail.  They accussed them for being against the Communist Party.

Now, the church is real place of culture and music.

 

ITALIAN CHURCH BUCHAREST HISTORY

Priest Clemente Gati took the job after Antonio Mantica left. Yet, as we said, he is also send to jail by communists and in 1952. Also the place closed its doors soon after. In 1968, the Italian prime-minister visited Bucharest. And that was the moment when the church is free to visit and to pray in again. Something similar happened to the ANGLICAN CHURCH.

THE ALTAR HAS A UNIQUE FEATURE

There are two amazing things about this monument.  It needs repairs after the 1997 great earthquake and between 1978 and 1980. On the back wall of the chorus, the painter Mihu Vulcanescu realized the greatest pottery made panel in Romania.

And that is not all. The altar was made from a single stump of a cut down tree and it is the masterpiece of George Apostu.

AROUND ITALIAN CHURCH

In 1997, four bas-reliefs were added to the wooden entrance door. It is 5 minutes walk from University Square and it has a tower, campanilla, places to live for the employees. The worship place was built in new-romantic style with Renaissance influences and it is 24 X 17 m, with an orgue and upstairs.
SEE MAP…