Museo Nazionale radio project becomes book

In 2015, Monica D'Onofrio launched Museo Nazionale on Radio 3, inviting 150 art historians, archaeologists, curators, and critics to each discuss an artwork in an Italian museum. The project, directed by Marino Sinibaldi, aimed for accessible yet rigorous commentary. Over two years, voices described works from medieval altarpieces to contemporary installations and a Gianni Versace haute couture dress. A dedicated website with 23 virtual rooms and podcasts was created, directed by Luca Scarlini, and social media allowed listeners to suggest favorite works. The initiative culminated in a 704-page volume published by Officina Libraria in 2019, curated by D'Onofrio and supported by the Direzione Generale Musei del MiBACT under Antonio Lampis. The book features detailed entries with images, covering masterpieces from major museums like Uffizi, Galleria Borghese, and Capodimonte, as well as lesser-known institutions such as Museo Chiossone in Genoa, Fondazione Magnani Rocca in Mamiano di Traversetolo, Museo Faina in Orvieto, Pinacoteca di Jesi, Collegio Alberoni in Piacenza, and Museo Civico di Viterbo. The project exemplifies Italy's diffuse cultural riches.