Memories of Stone: the crowdfunding campaign launched by ARA Cultural Association Art Restoration Archaeology

LAUNCHING "MEMORIES IN STONE": THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO UNCOVER THE BURIED SECRETS OF THE CHARTREUSE OF MONTEBENEDETTO in the mid Susa Valley

From November 2nd to December 12th, the Cultural Association ARA is launching a crowdfunding campaign to reconstruct some unpublished aspects of a hidden site!

A journey through time at 1177 meters above sea level, in the heart of beeches and chestnuts in the Susa Valley.

The fundraising campaign "Memories in Stone" officially begins on November 2nd and will conclude on December 12th. It was created by ARA Cultural Association of Art Restoration Archaeology with the support of Eppela as part of the +Resources call from the CRT Development and Growth Foundation.

The objective is ambitious and fascinating: to give voice and dignity to the forgotten traces of the Chartreuse of Montebenedetto (Villar Focchiardo, TO), the only remaining example in Europe of "Primitive Charterhouse" that still retains its original architectural features from the late 1200s.

Abandoned in the Late Medieval period after a catastrophic flood in 1473 buried most of it under a deep layer of debris, the Chartreuse has never been inhabited by other religious communities again. While the main body has been restored, the area behind the church remains an archaeological mystery: some speculate that under the green lawn lie the monks' cells and the structure of the "large cloister." Today, visitors can only glimpse a few stone slabs protruding from the grass, without understanding their original significance.

The project "Memories in Stone" was born to fund non-invasive scientific research and a public archaeology path.
The funds raised during the six weeks of the campaign will be used for:

• Research and field investigations: archaeological survey activities, removal of foliage to identify the perimeter of the buried structures, and documentary research in archives and libraries.
• Community involvement (backstage engagement): citizens and visitors will be guided by ARA’s Cultural Heritage professionals during the observation and reconnaissance phases on-site, enhancing the sense of belonging to the site.
• New exhibition setup: creation of infographic panels mounted on wooden easels, integrated into the existing permanent exhibition within the Chartreuse.
• Digital accessibility: production of audio-video content with interviews with visitors and residents. The material will be published on ARA's social channels to break down architectural, geographical, and communicative barriers.

All operations will be carried out in full compliance with the directives of the competent Superintendency and in agreement with the Piedmont Region, the owner of the site.

"Every stone in Montebenedetto tells a story suspended in time," explain the ARA managers. "With 'Memories in Stone' we want the public to be not just passive spectators but active participants in the discovery. Supporting this campaign means helping us bring to light a fundamental piece of alpine and European monastic history, making it finally accessible to everyone."

The crowdfunding campaign will be active from November 2nd (3:00 PM) to December 12th.
To find out how to donate, participate in field research activities, and follow project updates, you can visit the project page or the ARA Association's social platforms and official website.