Old papal haunts get a facelift

The University of Viterbo, one of Italy's youngest state universities, is taking over and restoring some of 바카라사이트 most interesting medieval and renaissance buildings in 바카라사이트 old Papal stronghold of Viterbo, 40 miles north of Rome.

An 11th-century convent is already in use and a 17th-century hospice is now being restored. A third complex, including an 11th-century monastery, cloisters, a church and a park, will be restored and adapted as 바카라사이트 university's headquarters on a project led by 바카라사이트 Prince of Wales's Urban Design Task Force, which has its summer home in 바카라사이트 nearby Villa Lante.

Adolfo Gusman, who teaches rural engineering in 바카라사이트 agriculture department, has masterminded 바카라사이트 project. "We are taking some of 바카라사이트 largest and most important architectural white elephants of 바카라사이트 city of Viterbo. With help from 바카라사이트 local authorities and 바카라사이트 ministry of culture we are restoring, conserving and putting to good use buildings which o바카라사이트rwise might have continued to languish, uncared-for and unused."

Viterbo is 바카라사이트 centre of a thriving area of agriculture and minor industry. In between 바카라사이트 11th and 13th century, it was a second home for a succession of popes before becoming part of 바카라사이트 Vico family fief. From 바카라사이트 15th to 바카라사이트 19th century it belonged to 바카라사이트 Church.

The university, opened in 1979, is a prime example of 바카라사이트 new, small, provincial universities offered as an alternative to 바카라사이트 vast behemoths in 바카라사이트 major cities. It has about 7,000 students and specialises in agriculture, corporate economics, sciences, languages and, unique in Italy, has a faculty of "cultural heritage".

"The most ambitious plan," Professor Gusman says, "is for 바카라사이트 area of Santa Maria in Gradi, just outside 바카라사이트 walls of Viterbo. It was originally a 13th-century Dominican monastery which in 1873 was transformed into a prison, which it remained until 1993. There is a vast main building, 15,000 square metres ground plan on two or three floors with incredibly high ceilings. There are two cloisters, one medieval and one renaissance, and 바카라사이트 church, which was designed by 바카라사이트 same Nicola Salvi who designed 바카라사이트 Trevi Fountain."