The CHIMERA of AREZZO

working in progress...

Returning to our values

A tenacious teamwork, which lasted 6 years, to bring to all the inhabitants and tourists of Arezzo the values of the Chimera, the magnificent symbol that has represented us for centuries.

The Chimera of Arezzo has been in the National Archaeological Museum of Florence since 1870. Thanks to the work and desire of many illustrious citizens of Arezzo, its faithful reproduction is finally located in our town, in Piazza della Repubblica, to be admired by all. Its exposition was authorized by the Regional Directorate of the Museums of Tuscany and the National Archaeological Museum of Florence.

The positioning of the precious work took place on Saturday 4th June 2022. The Prefect of Arezzo, Maddalena De Luca, the Mayor of Arezzo, Alessandro Ghinelli, the Councilor for Public Works, Alessandro Casi, the president of Arezzo's Rotary Club and promoter of the initiative, Oreste Tavanti, and the president of the Arte & Co.Scienza Foundation and creator and coordinator of the project, Massimo Gallorini, presided over the ceremony.

What is the Chimera?

>   The Chimera is the symbol that has represented Arezzo and its citizens for centuries. A synthesis of unspeakable value that recalls strength, courage and grace and that seems to go back to the works of the ancient Greek masters.

>   The original copy of the mythological creature is found with inventory code N.1 at the National Archaeological Museum in Florence. Several copies have been reproduced over time, some of which were already present in the Arezzo area.

>  However, these reproductions do not respect the original Chimera neither in size nor in proportions, resulting in a distorted image. The reproduction in Piazza della Repubblica (Arezzo) is instead the accurate copy of the original statue, now available to the gaze and heart of passers-by.

Here you will find an in-depth sheet edited by Dr. Maria Gatto, director of the National Archaeological Museum Gaio Cilnio Mecenate in Arezzo.

Reasons for the project

>  Having ascertained that there is still considerable difficulty in getting the original Chimera back in Arezzo; in 2016 it was undertaken a project to draw back, in our territory, the attention on this wonderful sculpture and, consequently, on the making of several re-creations up to the faithful reproduction in 2022. However, the hope of having the original back has never been abandoned and, indeed, we believe that this "sculpture in the square" will be a stimulus for everyone.

>  The Municipality of Arezzo fiercely confirms the importance of the symbol for our territory, so that the Mayor Alessandro Ghinelli and the Councilor for Public Works Alessandro Casi have wanted the work in the "station square" which, recently redesigned thanks to RFI, has found a new identity that is now also capable of exhibiting our origins. The Archaeological Superintendence approved this location also because of the faithfulness of the sculpture.

>   The tourist and the citizen will be able to feel immersed in the history and events that concern the Chimera, also through the QR code present on the plate which connects to the dedicated page.

>   Thanks to the support of Arezzo's Rotary Club and the help of individuals and private companies who joined the initiative, it is possible to show to all the travelers from Arezzo and abroad how this masterpiece really looks like.

A team effort

>   IThe president of the Rotary Club of Arezzo affirmed that it had been exciting to work together because of the spirit with which this tireless work was carried out by: the Arte & Co. Scienza Foundation, the Municipality of Arezzo, which promoted and consented to the initiative, the Regional Directorate of Museums of Tuscany and the National Archaeological Museum of Florence, which allowed the first complete and high resolution scan of the Chimera.

>   A special thanks goes to the contribution of companies such as TCA SpA. Andrea Chiarini, Counselor and Administrator of TCA SpA, recently stated: "We joined with enthusiasm the proposal to sponsor this new reproduction of the Chimera, which will be placed in a central position for the Arezzo community and visitors, giving the work the visibility and importance that it deserves. The recovery of value and raw materials has always been our mission at TCA, and this occasion represents an opportunity to focus on the principles that the statue represents: strength, courage, determination and grace".


The history of the Project and the event in 5 minutes (video)


The history of the project

2016

  • Presentation of the project to the Rotary Club of Arezzo and preliminary approval by the Polo Museale of Tuscany. The faithful 3D digital copy to generate the hologram of the Chimera is underway.


  • Among the scanning techniques, the "photogrammetry of the close" (which consists in taking hundreds of photos with a circular, roto-translational movement) is chosen.


>      The students of ITIS successfully carry out the first complete scan of the Chimera, taking as a model the beautiful reproduction in San Lorentino, by the master Enzo Scatragli

Collaborators:

  • Dr. Alessandro Fabiani, President of the Rotary Club Arezzo 2015-2016
  • Dr. Roberto Giotti, President of the Rotary Club Arezzo 2016-2017 Dr. Stefano Casciu, Director of the Polo Museale of Tuscany
  • Dr. Maria Gatto, Director of the National Archaeological Museum Gaio Cilnio Mecenate
  • Ing. Massimo Gallorini, ITIS teacher and President of the Arte & Co.Scienza Foundation

2017

  • - Realization of the first complete scan of the Chimera at the National Archaeological Museum of Florence; 1,500 photos were taken and more than 400 selected.

  • The Holographic Theater hosts the life-size hologram of the Chimera for the first rehearsals.

Collaborators:

  • Dr. Benedetto Ridolfo, President of Rotary Club Arezzo

  • CEIA and MACEVI, sponsorship of the project

  • Dr. Maria Gatto, Director of the National Archaeological Museum Gaio Cilnio Mecenate

  • Ing. Massimo Gallorini, ITIS teacher and President of the Arte & Co.Scienza Foundation

2018  (visit the link)

>   Presentation of the first part of the project with the Holographic Theater dedicated to the Chimera in the conference room of the Museum Gaio Cilnio Mecenate; the place is full of citizens, onlookers and scholars.

>  Realization of one accurate copy in resin in ½ scale and of one in patinated bronze, with permanent exhibition at the Auditorium of the Galileo Galilei Technical Institute

1st prize at ITIS during the participation in the "School-work Project" with exhibition in the premises of the Chamber of Commerce

>        Temporary exhibition of the two specimens at the Oro Arezzo international fair

Collaborators:

  • Dr. Benedetto Ridolfo and Eng. Marco Becucci, presidents of Rotary Club Arezzo

  • Prof. Alessandro Artini, Dean of ITIS, representing the student interns for the project Arezzo

  • Miria Valdarnini, Chamber of Commerce

  • Monnalisa, Macevi, Ceia, Memo Stampi and the Del Giudice's foundry finance and/or work on the project

  • Massimo Gallorini, president of Arte & Co.Scienza Foundation, coordinator, model maker and ITIS intern tutor

  • Dr. Casciu Stefano, Regional Director of Museums of Tuscany.  .

2019

 >      Presentation of the first publication relating to the advances on the Chimera


Collaborators:

  • Arch. Carlo Greco, president of the Rotary Club of Arezzo in 2019.

In the picture the cover of the publication.

.

2020

  • Beginning of the creation of a Chimera accessible to people with visual disabilities.

Collaborator:

  • Dr. Franco Lelli, president of the Rotary Club of Arezzo in 2020.
  • Dr. Maria Gatto, director of the National Archaeological Museum Gaio Cilnio Mecenate
  • Andrea Roggi, master sculptor, for the composition of the different parts of the Chimera
  • Massimo Gallorini, president of the Arte & Co.Scienza Foundation, coordinator and model maker.

2021  (visit the link)

  • Completion of the "Chimera Tattile" (Tactile Chimera) project.
  • Placement of the Chimera made of resin in the Gaio Cilnio Mecenate Archaeological Museum.


  • Beginning of the accurate reproduction in bronze and decision making regarding the location in a strategic place in Arezzo.

Collaborators:

  • Regional Directorate of Tuscany Museums (permissions).

  • Municipality of Arezzo, Mayor Alessandro Ghinelli and Councilor for Public Works Alessandro Casi.

  • Dr. Maria Gatto, Director of the National Archaeological Museum Gaio Cilnio Mecenate


  • Dr. Franco Lelli and Ing. Oreste Tavanti, presidents of the Rotary Club Arezzo and promoters of the Project.
  • Massimo Gallorini, President of the Arte & Co.Scienza Foundation
  • TCA SpA, sponsor.
  • Artistic Foundry Del Giudice Leonardo e Figli, (bronze foundry).
  • Arredodipietra (sculpture base of travertine).

2022