On Saturday 25 October, the historic Pasticceria Malavenda 1872 in Bolzano welcomed a large and attentive audience on the occasion of the event “La Visione di Soriano: a bridge of faith between Bolzano and Soriano Calabro”, promoted by the Wine and Food Academy APS Association.
The evening, which saw an enthusiastic participation of citizens, institutional representatives and art and culture enthusiasts, celebrated the profound artistic and spiritual bond between Bolzano and Soriano Calabro, united by the extraordinary work The Vision of Soriano, kept in the Dominican Church of Bolzano and symbol of a history that spans centuries, territories and different sensitivities.
The meeting was attended by Raffaele D’Angelo, president of the Wine and Food Academy, Alessandra Malavenda, entrepreneur and landlady, Angelo Gennaccaro, vice-president of the Provincial Council of Bolzano, and Johanna Ramoser, councilor for Mobility, Equal Opportunities, School and Leisure of the Municipality of Bolzano. Guest of honor was Mariangela Preta, archaeologist and director of the Soriano Calabro Museum Complex, who passionately illustrated the historical, artistic and devotional value of the work and the profound bond that unites the two communities.
During the evening, an excerpt from the film “The courage to believe” by Pasquale De Masi was also screened, a cinematographic work that tells the story of the donation of Soriano’s acheropita canvas, offering the public a moment of great emotion and historical insight. The film contributed to making the meaning of the link between faith, art and shared memory even more vivid and touching.
Great interest was aroused by the story of the connection between the South Tyrolean city and the Calabrian village through the Vision of Soriano, a painting by Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) which depicts the apparition of the Virgin Mary, accompanied by Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Mary Magdalene, to a Dominican brother from the convent of Soriano Calabro.
During the evening, the book “Dolcemente Me” by Alessandra Uriselli was also presented, which enriched the program with a literary and intimate touch.
The event concluded with a tasting of desserts from the Malavenda Pasticceria, accompanied by Moscato di Saracena from the Diana Agricultural Company, a Slow Food presidium, in perfect harmony with the philosophy of the Wine and Food Academy, which combines taste, culture and knowledge.
“We are proud to have created a meeting that unites two very different and at the same time complementary realities. Soriano’s Vision is a symbol of how art can be a universal language, capable of creating cultural and spiritual bridges between North and South, between tradition and contemporaneity.”
– Raffaele D’Angelo, president of the Wine and Food Academy
“Welcoming an event like this in our pastry shop means enhancing culture as a moment of sharing and dialogue. Bolzano is an open and curious city, and evenings like this demonstrate how important it is to build bonds through beauty, history and, why not, also through taste.”
– Alessandra Malavenda, entrepreneur and landlady
“This meeting represents a moment of great emotion for us. Soriano’s Vision is not only an artistic masterpiece, but a message of identity, memory and faith that continues to unite distant communities. Seeing the name of Soriano next to that of Bolzano is concrete proof of how culture can truly build lasting bridges.”
– Mariangela Preta, director of the Soriano Calabro Museum Complex
With the success of this event, the APS Wine and Food Academy and the promoters of the initiative confirm their intention to continue on this path, encouraging new cultural exchanges between different territories, in the name of art, faith and conviviality.