VENUE

The Monumental Complex of San Michele at Ripa Grande was founded in 1686 as the Apostolic Institute of St. Michael during the pontificate of Innocence XI Odescalchi.

The original Institute building, designed by the architects Carlo Fontana e Mattia de' Rossi, was intended to house and educate poor children and orphans. The chequered history of the construction of the Factory of St. Michael, which continued at intervals over the course of 150 years, lead to a series of modifications of the original project and thus it was not finished until 1834.

The Great Church, or Chiesa Grande, designed by Carlo Fontana in 1706, is the geometrical fulcrum of the complex. The original project was in the form of a perfect Greek cross to allow all the inmates to take part in the religious functions.

The Apostolic Institute, which housed in separate buildings poor spinsters and the elderly as well as needy children and orphans, was considered a model for the organisation of social services in Europe. To its original function of caring for and correcting the weakest members of society, that of educating the inmates was added. Thus, a School of Arts and Crafts was founded, also a factory which flourished until 1870, a wool mill founded in 1703, a tapestry workshop, a printers’ and a School for Liberal Arts, which produced some artists of note.