Museo Correr, Venice
from 11th July 2012
Sissi’s myth is commemorated in Venice with the inauguration and the opening to the public of the rooms reserved to the Princess Sissi in the Imperial Apartments of the Royal Palace in Venice, in S. Mark’s Square, after a restauration of nine estraordinary spaces.
Princess Sissi sojourned for 38 days in the Imperial Apartments in the Royal Palace, in occasion of her first visit in Venice in 1856, the visit recalled in the fourth episode of the famous film by Ernst Marischka. Then, Elisabeth chose Venice to live after the death of her daughter Sofia, between October 1861 and May 1862.
The nine rooms now opened to the public, give back to light decorations by Giuseppe Borsato, ornamentations by Giovanni Rossi, golden stuccos. New tapestries have been collocated in the rooms, close to the original ones, expressly realized and donated by Rubelli – Venice. To recall the original atmosphere, precious fittings dated to the Napoleonic period and in Imperial style have been collocated in the Apartments.
Come back to life the Empress’ Audience Room and the Studio, the Empress’ bedroom with its delightful boudoir and the Antechamber. The Empress’s Bathroom is personalized by a decoration representing “The Goddess protecting the Arts“, with a face recalling the beautiful Empress. Also, of great impact for richness of decorations, tapestries and furnishings, the “public” spaces, as the Dining-room for week-day lunches, the Lombardy-Venetia Throne Room and the Oval Room.
These rooms in the Imperial Apartments, become property of the Italian Demanio from the 20s, were destinated to offices and abandoned for many years. Then they were reassigned to the Comune di Venezia and subject to a conservative intervention from the year 2000, concluded in 2012 with the opening to the public. These spaces will be part of the layout and collections of the Museo Correr.
This restauration of the Imperial Apartments, promoted and financed by the Comité Français pour la Sauvegarde de Venise, under the approval of the Direzione Regionale per i Beni Culturali e Paesaggistici del Veneto and the direction of the Soprintendenza per i Beni Architettonici e Paesaggistici di Venezia e Laguna. Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia coordinated the project and financed part of the works, and will insert these rooms in the itinerary of visit in the Royal Palace.
The new itinerary is something inexpected and not to be missed, added to the already well-known itinerary in S. Mark’s Square, overlooking the Royal Gardens and S. Mark’s basin.
Restauration promoted and financed by:
Comité Français pour la Sauvegarde de Venise
Under the approval of:
Direzione Regionale dei Beni Architettonici e Paesaggistici del Veneto
Direction of the restauration:
Soprintendenza per i Beni Architettonici e Paesaggistici di Venezia e Laguna
With the coordination and the contribution of:
Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia