Antonio Barluzzi

Antonio Barluzzi
File:Barluzzi-tablica-crop-2010.JPG Antonio Barluzzi Memorial
Born	26 September 1884 Rome, Italy
Died	14 December 1960 Rome, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Education	University of Rome
Occupation	Franciscan monk
Known for	Holy Land Architect
Salary	none

Antonio Barluzzi (26 September 1884 – 14 December 1960) was an Italian Franciscan monk and architect. He became known as the "Architect of the Holy Land" by creating, among many others, the pilgrimage churches at the Garden of Gethsemane, on Mount Tabor (considered to be the Mount of Transfiguration), on the Mount of Beatitudes (the site of the Sermon on the Mount), and at the tomb of Lazarus. He also restored, giving them a new outlook, several churches and chapels including the Catholic chapel on Calvary, within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Biography

Barluzzi was born in Rome, the thirteenth child of Camillo Barluzzi and Maria Anna Busiri-Vici; his maternal grandfather Andrea Busiri-Vici was the architect responsible for the maintenance of St. Peter's Basilica. As early as five years old Barluzzi would create remarkable sketches of churches. His family lived close to the Vatican and historically were workers there. Barluzzi attended the Liceo Umberto I di Roma, where he was instructed by Giulio Salvadori. After leaving school in 1902, he began to pursue his calling, however he was persuaded to delay his entry into the priesthood only on the advice of his advisor and confessor Father Corrado, who wanted Barluzzi to further his education first. From 1902 until 1907 he attended the Sapienza University of Rome, successfully attaining a degree in Engineering. Barluzzi spent several years working with his brother, Giulio, on building projects in the Middle East. He was unsure whether to enter the priesthood and whilst discerning his vocation worked in Jerusalem on a 100-bed hospital for the Italian Missionary Society. While in Jerusalem he was asked by Father Razzoli, head of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, to submit plans for a basilica on Mount Tabor.

World War I

With the outbreak of World War I in 1914 he was obliged to return to Italy. There, in 1915, on the recommendation of his confessors he joined the Seminario Romano di S. Giovanni on the Sunday after Easter. However he never attended any lectures and left after only a few weeks. After leaving seminary he joined the Italian army as a Sergeant and began his military service with the Fortifications Office overseeing archaeological excavations at the second-century Castel Sant'Angelo. In 1918 he joined the Palestine detachment and took part in the allied entry into Jerusalem.

File:AinKarem22.JPG

Barluzzi appears in a fresco in his Church of the Visitation at Ein Karem

While in Palestine he met Father Custos Ferdinando Diotallevi, the new head of the Custody of the Holy Land, who had the plans Barluzzi had previously drawn for Mount Tabor during his first visit. He requested Barluzzi start work simultaneously on this and another church at Gethsemane. Worried by this new responsibility Barluzzi returned to Italy to take advice, but ultimately returned to Jerusalem decided and determined. By 1924 he had completed The Church of All Nations at Gethsemane and the Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.

World War II

During the Second World War Barluzzi was in Sardinia doing building works for the Franciscan and Capuchin fathers. He remained in Italy until 1947. During this time he planned a great temple at the Holy Sepulchre and what he thought was his final work in the holy land, a Shrine to the Incarnation in Nazareth.

Death and legacy

Barluzzi died on 14 December 1960 in a small room at the Delegation of the Holy Land in Rome. His funeral was celebrated at the Basilica di Sant'Antonio and was attended by Cardinal Gustavo Testa, the procurator General of the Franciscan Order. There is a likeness of him near his church on Mount Tabor (pictured) and oddly he also appears in a fresco on the wall of the church he designed at Ein Karem. Barluzzi himself never wore his medals or spoke of his awards and was a simple monk in his behaviour whenever possible. Of his designs, the architecture writer H.V. Morton wrote "They are remarkable for their originality and the variety of their design... Barluzzi will be recognised as a genius in years to come."

Awards and honors

• Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy, 1922.
• Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, 1923.
• Knight Commander of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
• Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, 24 July 1957.
• Honorary vice-consul of Italy in Palestine.
• Member, Archaeological Advisory Board of Jerusalem.
• Member, Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts.

Works

• The Italian Hospital in Jerusalem, together with his brother Giulio, 1912-1919.
• The Church of All Nations, Gethsemane, 1919–24
• The Church of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor, 1921–24
• Church and Hospice of Jesus the Good Shepherd in Jericho, 1924-25.
  • A school for girls in Jericho, 1924.
• The Italian Legation premises at Teheran (restoration), 1925-26.
• Terra Sancta College, Jerusalem, 1927.
• The Italian Hospital in Amman, Jordan, 1926–28, the very first hospital in that city [5].
• The Church of the Flagellation, Jerusalem, rebuilt over Crusader ruins, 1927-29.
• A new house for the Carmelite Fathers of Haifa and restoration of their church on Mount Carmel, 1930.
• The Italian Hospital in Karak, Jordan, 1931–33
• Restoration of the Catholic chapel of the Calvary in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, 1933-37.
• The Church of the Beatitudes, Galilee, 1937-38
• The Cloister of St. Jerome at the Church of St. Catherine, Bethlehem (restoration), 1947.
• The Church & Tomb of St. Lazarus, al-Eizariya (biblical Bethany), 1952-53.
• The Greek Catholic Church of the Holy Face and St Veronica, Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem (restoration), 1953.
• The Church of the Angels, Shepherds' Field, Beit Sahour near Bethlehem, 1953-54 [6].
• Dominus Flevit, Mount of Olives, 1954-55
• Church of Bethphage, Mount of Olives (restoration), 1955.
• The Church of Visitation, Ein Karem, completed 1955.
• The Latin Parish Church of St. Joseph, Haifa, run by the Carmelites, 1959-1961.
• The Armenian Catholic Patriarchate, Beirut.
• Churches and other related buildings in Amman and Madaba, Jordan.
• The parish churches in Beit Sahour (Church of Our Lady of Fatima),
• The Convent of St Antony, Jerusalem, for the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
• The Ethiopian Monastery, Jerusalem (restoration).

Further reading

• Masha Halevi, “A Pious Architect and an Italian Nationalist: Antonio Barluzzi and his activism in promoting the Italian interests in the Holy Land, Cathedra, 144, 2012, pp. 75-106 (Hebrew).
• Masha Halevi, “The Politics behind the Construction of the Modern Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth”, The Catholic Historical Review, 96, no. 1, January 2010, pp. 27–55