The Reggia di Carditello is finally ours: some impressions

It is this morning’s news that the Reggia di Carditello as of today belongs to all Italians: Minister Massimo Bray announced it late in the morning on Facebook,ANSA typed a few lines about the event at 13:08, and now the number of newspapers spreading the news must be multiplying, with all the details of the operation (in particular, as can be read in the ANSA news, the Reggia was purchased at the judicial auction of the civil court of Santa Maria Capua Vetere by SGA, a company controlled by the Ministry of Economy for 11.5 million euros, and will then be sold to the Ministry of Culture).

It is an event that cannot leave one indifferent, and this is for a very specific reason: the Reggia has become, in recent times, the symbol of humiliated and vilified culture, due to the contrast between its high historical and artistic value and the state of degradation in which it has long been in. It was thus the most glaring and, if you will, also the most spectacular example of situations that are widespread along almost the entire peninsula: there are many monuments and works of art that are in poor condition, and the Reggia di Carditello was nothing but the symbol par excellence of the degradation of the historical-artistic heritage.

Of course, within minutes of the announcement, it is very easy to become prey to easy enthusiasm: but for once we want to think and make people think positively. We like to think about the fact that the purchase of the Reggia di Carditello can be seen as the founding act of the rebirth in Italy of interest in heritage. We like to think of the fact that the state has finally shown its presence and closeness to the citizens, who had long been demanding that something be done about the Reggia. We like to think about the fact that the Reggia di Carditello in the future will be able to bring culture and legality to an area that badly needs culture and legality.

It is obvious that the future challenges, for the Reggia, will certainly not be easy: Carditello is located almost at the exact center of that area of Italy that we hear about almost daily, in the media, for news related to the crimes of the Camorra and the environmental disasters that the population has suffered for too long. But the Reggia di Carditello could represent hope: hope that the state will be able to clean up the territory from all that has damaged it, and to change the mentality, one can only start with culture. It could also be a good lesson for all those who nag us every day with phrases like “culture is useless,” “culture does not create jobs,” “politics and culture must remain separate,” and so on. No, we reiterate that culture does serve, and more than ever it serves where it is a victim of degradation and neglect.

Is this rhetoric? Perhaps, but one cannot help but look forward to a long overdue piece of news. Finally, we cannot refrain from congratulating Minister Massimo Bray, who has done his duty, who proves to be an attentive, prepared, intelligent, humble minister who is close to people, and who continues his work by keeping his promises, first of all the one made a few weeks ago to Tommaso Cestrone, for everyone the Angel of Carditello, the Civil Defense volunteer who in all these years has continued to actively oppose degradation, despite threats and despite intimidating actions. Tommaso left us at Christmas, unfortunately, but Minister Bray has kept his promise to ensure that the Reggia becomes the heritage of all Italians. So now the ministry will have to work to recover it: it will be the natural continuation of the promise.

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