From fresco to fresco

Last Saturday, as part of the European Cultural Heritage Days, an interesting thematic hike From Fresco to Fresco took place in the Divača municipality, which brought 40 participants from all over Slovenia and abroad on a journey of discovery of medieval wall painting. The circular hike through the beautiful nature in the area of the famous Škocjan Caves Park led the participants to three typical medieval churches in the Karst region, where medieval frescoes were presented through various workshops.

At the Church of St Helena in Gradišče near Divača, participants learned what murals are and that not everything painted on a wall is a fresco. Experts presented the technology of making a real fresco, the materials used to make them, participants prepared pigments for painting and tried their hand at making the stencilled patterns that are typical of medieval frescoes.

In nearby Famlje, at the Church of St Thomas the Apostle, hikers were met by two expert restorers who presented their work and the different methods used today to conserve and restore murals. A variety of restoration tools were on display, and the bravest could try their hand at uncovering frescoes - only on copies, of course, as we all learned together that only trained and experienced professionals can restore frescoes!

The last stop was the Church of St Brikcius in Naklo, where the iconography of medieval frescoes in churches was presented. Visitors were asked which scenes were painted in which places in the church and why. As we were all a bit tired after the long journey, we also had a rest, during which we could listen to stories about the saints, read some books, draw our patron saint and have a delicious jota with homemade sausage!

The weather was wonderful and the hike was full of positive energy, curious hikers and moments that will be etched among our beautiful and colourful memories - just like the medieval frescoes!

Organisers: the ZVKDS, the Municipality of Divača, TKŠD Urbanščica, the Koper Regional Museum, the Škocjan Caves Park, Slovenia

Text: Minka Osojnik, ZVKDS OE Nova Gorica