A journey through time exploring art and power, faith and strength. Curated by Sandro Barbagallo in collaboration with Marco Iuffrida, the exhibition held in the halls of the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo offers visitors the opportunity to view a rare and precious collection up close: helmets and defensive gear from the historical collections of the Vatican Museums, silent witnesses to the defense of the papacy in the modern age and symbols of a spiritual power that, between the Renaissance and the Baroque periods, was intertwined with strategic, political and military needs.
Zuccotti helmets used by arquebusiers and musketeers, horse helmets adorned with noble coats of arms, burgonet helmets, cheek pieces and morions (Spanish-style helmets still worn today by the Swiss Guards) belonging to the papal militia between the 16th and 17th centuries tell us about the lives of men-at-arms in an era marked by religious conflicts, territorial wars and institutional reforms. In the years marked by traumatic events such as the Sack of Rome in 1527, the protection of the pontiff began to take the form of a complex defensive apparatus that reflected the transformation of the papacy into a modern state. Despite the absence of a regular papal army, special corps were formed (such as the Lance Spezzate, the Cavalrymen and the Swiss Guard) and a military culture developed based on absolute loyalty to the pope and awareness of their role in defending the Church. It was during this period that the helmet reached its maximum technical and symbolic expression: the engravings, mythological motifs and naturalistic details that adorn some of the examples on display convey values, identities and ideologies, combining aesthetics and faith.
In addition to the armor, the exhibition presents to the public some majolica pieces from the Carpegna Collection decorated with battle scenes and a painting from the Barberini Palace in Castel Gandolfo, the portrait of Francesco II Colonna, son of Stefano IV Colonna, who distinguished himself in the defense of Clement VII during the Sack of Rome in 1527. The Sala dei Papi also features a tapestry depicting the Conversion of Saint Paul, part of a series of tapestries depicting the Acts of the Apostles intended to adorn the lower part of the walls of the Sistine Chapel. The ticket for the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo includes access to all current exhibitions, the Garden of the Moor and the Secret Garden.
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