Southern Italians Torn Between Two Statues

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27666, 24 May 1955, Page 13

Southern Italians Torn Between Two Statues

(Rec. 8 p.m.) BENEVENTO (Southern Italy), May 22. The men of Castelvetere (population 4000), near Benevento, are at “war” with the women over a rosecoloured statue of Venus, the goddess of love, in the local park. Early next month the villagers will celebrate the feast day of their patron saint, St. Nicholas of Bari. The priest, Don Angelo Palmieri, has declared: “The saint’s statue will not be taken out of the church for the traditional procession round Castelvetere if the Venus is still around.”

The women of the village approve of his disapproval. The Mayor, Mr Donato Giglio, and most of his councillors have retorted: “The statue of Venus will not be removed.” The men of the village back them up. Both sides insist: “Last time we compromised. This time we shall not.” “Last time” was last week, when the Mayor agreed to clothe Venus with leaves during the inaugural procession of the new statue of St. Nicholas of Bari. A brisk wind overcame the mayor’s precautions. A terracotta reproduction of Canova’s Venus emerging from the bath, the statue arrived last summer as a gift from a former local resident now in Florence. In a Southern Italian village, where the conventions are strictly kept, the statue caused a sensation. The men of Castelvetere began to show a new enthusiasm for evening walks in the park. They said moonlight gave the rose statue a strange fascination.

The gift coincided with the arrival of the new statue of St. Nicholas, and Don Angelo thought his male parishioners were not showing a proper admiration for their patron saint.

The Mayor said today: “The stattie is a breath of civilisation and classical beauty. It must stay.” Don Angelo replied: “The Mayor has that rascal Satan on his side. But St. Nicholas is on mine. And I know who is going to win.”