Bernini's Cappella Albertoni restored in Rome after 20 years

The Cappella Albertoni, located in the Church of San Francesco a Ripa in Rome, has undergone a complete restoration. Originally completed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1674, this chapel features the sculpture "Estasi della Beata Ludovica Albertoni." Funded by the Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma with a budget of 39,000 euros, the six-month project was spearheaded by restorer Elisabetta Zatti, along with Carlo Festa and art historian Aldo Mastroianni. The restoration focused on cleaning the sculpture and surrounding surfaces, while the altarpiece by Giovanni Battista Gaulli (il Baciccio) was left untouched. The chapel commemorates Ludovica Albertoni, who was beatified in 1761. Danila Porro, Soprintendente Speciale di Roma, remarked that the restoration improves both preservation and public appreciation, reinstating Bernini's signature equilibrium.