Campania’s Gothic Heritage Unveiled in New Publication

The two-volume work, “Architecture and Figurative Arts of the Gothic Period in Campania,” debuted yesterday at Nocera Inferiore’s Pucci Municipal Library. This comprehensive study, authored by Professor Francesco Aceto and Professor Paola Vitolo (University of Naples Federico II) and Professor Alessandra Perriccioli Saggese (Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania), offers both scholars and the general public an accessible overview of the region’s rich Gothic legacy. One volume presents a detailed narrative and analysis, while the other showcases the architectural and artistic marvels discussed, providing a visually engaging companion to the text. Campania boasts a wealth of preserved 13th and 14th-century art and architecture, predominantly concentrated in Naples but also dispersed throughout the region. The authors chose Nocera Inferiore for the book’s premiere, expressing a desire to engage with the local community before wider dissemination. Professor Aceto highlighted the ambition of their project, distilling centuries of scholarly research into a reader-friendly format. He playfully noted the often-unrealized potential within academia, emphasizing their aim to produce a high-quality resource capable of enlightening even readers with limited prior knowledge on the subject. Joining the authors for the presentation were Dr. Antonio Braca (Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape Superintendence), Professor Gerardo Ruggiero (Salerno Society of Homeland History), and Dr. Federica Fortino (Councilor for Culture), with Dr. Nicla Iacovino, the library director, serving as moderator. The authors expressed immense pride in their years-long endeavor, resulting in a publication accessible and enjoyable to a broad audience.