There is the dedication of the Alpini with the large eagle with the shield on the chest and that of the Italians of the colony of Eritrea.
That of His Imperial Highness the Prince of China Tsai Hsiim and that of Turin Freemasonry, but also of the city of Viareggio and the bathing colony, of the Lombard women of the Monarchist Association of Monza, up to the importers of Italian wines in Buenos Aires.
It is a kaleidoscope of dedications and thanks that tell a page of Italian history, that of the 163 funeral wreaths that emperors, kings, institutions, associations from all over the world sent in memory of Umberto I of Savoy, killed on 29 July 1900 in Monza by the anarchist Gaetano Bresci.
A long tribute, grown over the years as a sign of closeness to the Royal Family,
Initially located in the royal apartments of the Villa of Monza, since 1921 the crowns have been kept inside the crypt of the Expiatory Chapel, the monument designed by Giuseppe Sacconi (the same as the Vittoriano and trusted architect of the Savoy) inaugurated on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his death of the king, whose recovery has already begun for some time.
"We have already intervened on structures and wall facings with the creation of new visitor routes and on the qualification of public green spaces surrounding the Chapel - Daffra tells ANSA - We are monitoring the state of conservation of the mosaics", decorated with skies stars, peacocks and Savoy coats of arms.
"Now it's the turn of the interior 'furnishings'" with the 163 crowns "in bronze and iron, of different sizes but all characterized by a refined craftsmanship".
Over the years, explains the regional director, they have been affected "by atmospheric pollution, with sometimes very extensive corrosion processes. Some crowns have lost some decorative elements. And the treatments received in the past, with varnishes and protective waxes,
over time they have naturally altered, causing dark patinas and spots and dulling the lustres that originally glimmered in the penumbra of the crypt.
Therefore it is important to intervene, to make the executive details legible, but above all to stop their deterioration".
To restore them to their former beauty, the cost is not high (the total is 191,390 euros).
But, the regional director continues, "we preferred to split it up", crown by crown, with interventions ranging from 300 to 3 thousand euros.
In this way, taking advantage of all the tax advantages of the Art Bonus (www.artbonus.governo.it), one or a small group can be "adopted".
For 1,610 euros, for example, you can save the very elaborate one of the Italians residing in the colony of Sacramento, Uruguay, with the large star and the winged putto dominating the dragon with his sword.
Even fewer are required for the highly emblazoned crowns donated by the Emperor of Ethiopia (1,210 euros) and His Imperial Highness Prince Tsai Tao (just 800), testimony to the close international relations maintained by the royal family.
And then here are those from Sicily and Constantinople, from Italian exhibitors in Paris 1900 passing through all sections of the army and the scavengers of Rome.
Tributes that remember Umberto I as the "strong, good and loyal" King of Italy, who "sealed the honor of his people with his blood".
"The hope - concludes Daffra - is to shortly draw up, alongside that of the donors, also the list of the 'tutelary gods' of these perennial crowns".
