Museo diocesano di Ariano Irpino e Lacedonia

In accordance with the directives of the Italian Episcopal Conference on sacred art and cultural heritage, the Museum of the Diocese of Ariano Irpino-Lacedonia was established with the objective of addressing the risk of dispersion and decay of the historical-artistic ecclesiastical heritage. It was thus established as a repository for the collection and conservation of pictorial and sculptural works of art from the diocesan cultural and religious heritage, which were removed from their original locations and destroyed following the earthquakes of 1962 and 1980. In addition to the protection of the diocesan territory, the Museum's objective is to foster and promote knowledge of the diocesan cultural and religious heritage, acting as an important reference point for cultural initiatives. The collection comprises paintings on canvas, sculptures, epigraphs, altar frontals, tabernacles and a plethora of sacred vestments, all of which can be traced back to the 17th to 20th centuries. The tour of the diocesan museum, situated within the Church of the Annunziata, encompasses two levels and presents a linear itinerary that is readily discernible to the general public. In the spacious church hall, the colours and embroideries of the full vestments of the bishops of Ariano evince a catechetical itinerary. The corridor displays the symbols and mottos of the bishops' coats of arms, which exemplify the scope of their pastoral care. The first floor of the residence is dedicated to an exhibition of sacred vestments, which illustrate the religiosity of the local community. In the hallway and along the stairs, inscriptions and coats of arms recall significant moments in the history of the diocese. Marble sculptures, which serve a liturgical function, are represented by frontals and tabernacles. Finally, on the upper floor, paintings on canvas and printed sacred images illustrate the cults practised in the diocese.