Memory
Even if it has become inaccessible, the valley of the mills remains in the collective imagination; it is repeatedly interpreted by artists and personalities from the world of culture.
In 1981 Antonino Di Leva, local historian, dedicated an entire chapter of his book “Within the circle of the ancient walls” (“Entro la cerchia de le mura antiche“) to “The garette and the filling of the ravine” (“Le garette e il riempimento del burrone“). Relying on sources from the archive of the Municipality of Sorrento, he documented the demolitions of the sections of walls and the filling of the valleys with waste material. Di Leva closed the chapter by declaring that everything had happened “because of general indifference” and concluded: “And even today that sentiment has not substantially changed” [Di Leva 1987, p. 63].
Property of the author, by courtesy of the same.
Property of the author, by courtesy of the same.
Property of the author, by courtesy of the same.
Local painters also helped keep the memory of the valley landscape alive in the community.
Property of Fiorentino, by courtesy of the same.
[Domenico Fiorentino 2007, p. 153]
Property of Fiorentino, by courtesy of the same.
[Domenico Fiorentino 2007, p. 153]
Private collection, courtesy of owner.
Side of a chest.
Inlay in wood: maple, afrormosia, amaranth, birch, chestnut, Macassar ebony, beech, ash, magnolia, olive, elm, rosewood, linden.
Inspiration for the great masters of Sorrento’s wooden marquetry
Private collection, courtesy of owner.
Side of a chest.
Inlay in wood: maple, afrormosia, amaranth, birch, chestnut, Macassar ebony, beech, ash, magnolia, olive, elm, rosewood, linden.
Property of the author, by permission
Inlay in wood: maple, orange, ash, horse chestnut, lemon, mahogany, walnut, elm, paduca, pear tree, 5 grades tulipien, olive tree.
Terracotta, base cm. 37, depth cm. 20, height cm. 50, width cm. 8.
Property of the author, by permission.
The valley as inspiration for the masters of nativity scenes
Terracotta, base cm. 37, depth cm. 20, height cm. 50, width cm. 8.
Property of the author, by permission.
Nel secondo Novecento il collezionismo locale iniziò a recuperare e raccoglie il patrimonio iconografico che raffigurava Sorrento.
Tra questi Antonino Cuomo, avvocato, più volte sindaco della città e cultore di storia locale, ha pubblicato più volte il patrimonio raccolto; Alessandro Fiorentino, architetto, ha aperto al pubblico le proprie collezioni nel Museo MUTA; Antonino Parlato ha sempre reso disponibile la propria raccolta di cartoline e fotografie.
