Recently Ischia News & Events dedicated to the many towers on the island of Ischia a special insert to complete the June issue. One of these towers is nowadays topic of discussion about its story and identity: we are of course referring to the Tower of Guevara, known as tower of Michelangelo or of Saint Anna. We will explain the reason for this indecision, taking advantage of the expertise of the dr. Giorgio Brandi, councillor of "G. Sadoul Circle".

Beyond the attribution of the name, something more important concerns at the time the tower, doesn't it?

«Exactly. The tower, which I personally prefer to call Guevara referring to the legitimate owners of the building up to 1800, is at the center of a meritorious action starring the German University of Dresden. After a first campaign of restoration of the frescoes of the stairs, which ended in 2006, becoming conscious of the need to restore the frescoes of the entire tower, we searched in vain for funding and financial support for the work, but the lack of funds threatened to jeopardize everything. This is how, almost by accident, it is part of the speech at the University of Dresden, and Professor. Danzl Thomas, wants to restore (practically free) the archaeological asset, asking for a minimum contribution of board and lodging, for the workers (the German students, ed.). »

How do we interpreter the contribution of the Sadoul Circle in this context?

«In 2010, in coordination with the competent authorities, laid the foundation for this work. So much effort spent in this sense, as explains the president of the Circle, Ilia Delight. In accord with the agreements, through a work experience for about one month and a half per year, the German students could complete the restoration in 2014. To get the project we asked city administration to use the availability of spaces (to organize, as in past years, exhibitions and events). The Tower was given to us only temporarily, and we have done the possible to keep alive the agreement, seeking funding and contributions. But now we are in trouble.»

And the institutions?

«Unfortunately we find ourselves increasingly alone in this initiative. It seems that we are abandoned and further the work is at risk. It would be a shame, given that the value of beauty and the invaluable frescos came to light from twenty layers of plaster. Our enthusiasm is not enough and, after an initial approach, the institutions seem to have cooled. As if they had accepted at the beginning only to not give evidence of their foolishness. I am deeply saddened: the administration has not given us a guarantee of being able to cover expenses for 2012, and we are sure to pursue the project, alone. If we stop it, it would be very serious ...»

In conclusion, what is the tower's name?

«Reluctantly, I must note however that the question of the name, maybe marginal, has roused great interest by the municipality. In essence, the fifteenth-century tower has been in possession of the Guevara family for four centuries or so. It never had a specific name, even the cartographic archives show various denominations. Some people, like us, seek to preserve the historical memory of the family that commissioned the frescoes, some of them bearing the coat of arms of the family, and there are those who prefer to invent media campaigns, assuming a presence of Michelangelo in Ischia, never historically established. This is due to a scholar of the first half of the XX century, Onofrio Buonocore, who decided to combine some of the high-flown names of the places for 'sponsoring' the beauty of the island. Since the time of the construction of the tower, there was Vittoria Colonna (then married to Ferrante d'Avalos) who would have had a relationship not necessarily of love with Michelangelo, the Buonocore dedicated the tower to the great artist. It seems that the City has produced an official act which prescribes that it should call "Tower of Michelangelo", but perhaps it should be more important to focus on other more central matters».