Restoration of Iconic 'Christ of the Abyss' Underwater Statue in Italy

Rome, Aug 22 (AP) Italian police divers have undertaken a mission to restore one of the Mediterranean's key underwater attractions. Using pressurized water hoses, they have removed crustaceans from the iconic "Christ of the Abyss" statue, which was submerged off Italy's northern coast in 1954.

The imposing 2.5-meter bronze sculpture, which portrays Christ with outstretched hands offering a blessing, was crafted from melted-down medals of Italy's fallen soldiers, canons, and ships. It was conceived as a poignant tribute to those who perished at sea.

This statue is revered as a powerful emblem of sacrifice during World War II. Similar renditions can be found off the shores of Key Largo, Florida, and in Grenada.

Situated roughly 300 meters off the coastline between the resort towns of Portofino and Camogli, on Italy's northern Ligurian coast, it rests at a depth of approximately 18 meters.

According to Italy's Culture Ministry's archaeological office, due to its close proximity to the shore and its relatively shallow depth, the "Christ of the Abyss" site is regarded as the Mediterranean's most frequented diving spot.

Located in the bay of San Fruttuoso, the site also captivates kayakers and paddle boarders, since the statue is discernible from the water's surface.

Each year, divers meticulously employ water-blasting to rid the statue of bacteria and corrosive crustations that build up over time. This year's cleaning was conducted on August 19 with the collaboration of Italian police, the coast guard, and four other forces.

The pressurized cleaning method utilizes seawater and does not harm the bronze or the marine environment, as the microorganisms are merely detached and released back into the sea, according to Alessandra Cabella, an art historian with the Ligurian archaeology superintendent's office.

"There are many marvellous fish that come to observe," she remarked in an interview Thursday. "It truly is an activity that has zero impact on the environment."

The water-blasting technique has been in place since 2004, following a full restoration when the statue was temporarily removed from the seabed after a hand broke off and was reattached.

It was during this time that restorers realized that the prior underwater cleaning technique—using metal brushes to scrape the bronze—had caused unrepairable harm to the statue. It left crevices in the bronze patina that attracted more marine growth.

The statue's delicacy is compounded by the fact that, when crafted by Italian artist Guido Galletti in honor of an Italian diver who died nearby, it was filled with cement and iron rods for stabilization on the seabed. Unfortunately, the presence of iron has contributed to internal corrosion of the bronze, as noted by Cabella. (AP) NPK NPK

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)