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In 1563, the Council of Trent decreed that every major diocese
establish a seminary to educate its clergy.In 1654,a seminary
was finally opened in Cagli, fulfilling the decree. The Diocese
of Cagli had concerns, however, about the size and condition
of its building.
During the late 17th century, the number of students began
to increase. Also,the original seminary building fell into
disrepair. Walls were crumbling. The building was becoming
unstable.
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In 1770, the diocese broke ground for a new
seminary, the building that now houses the Atrium, said geomitrist
Remo Sabbatini. A geomitrist, much like an architect, specializes
in building design, but must only design buildings smaller
than four stories.
Since its construction in 1775, the seminary building has
been a major though ever-changing landmark in Cagli. The original
seminary covered grades one through 12, Sabbatini said.
He said that when the seminary opened in the late 1770s all
boys from the town could attend, although it was mostly for
those wishing to become priests. The seminary taught theology,
canon law, and Catholic studies.
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“The seminary was a kind of high school. Males attending
would eventually become priests, but this was not always the
case,” said Sabbatini.
To become a priest, a pupil would have to complete his education
at this minor seminary, and then go to a major seminary in
Fano that prepared men for ordination.
Lucia Braccini, Cagli historian, said that the boys that
attended were from different backgrounds. “The poor
would send their sons to become priests. And the wealthy families
would send their sons, too, but not the first-born male,”
said Braccini.
Those from wealthy families were either the second-born or
third-born males. This was a consequence of the traditional
Italian practice that the first-born male gets the family
farm. Families would send younger sons to become priests. |
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Sons of a poor family, no matter their place in the birth
order, were sent to the seminary so their families would not
have to support them. The seminary educated, housed, and fed
the boys. This was fine because their parents knew their sons
were being cared and provided for.
This practice continued until about 1944, when the bridges
into Cagli were destroyed by World War II bombing. This meant
that only the Cagliesi could attend the seminary. When the
bridges were rebuilt, outsiders did not return, said Sabbatini.
The improving postwar economy also hurt seminary enrollment,
he said. Boys had more economic opportunities, and fewer wanted
to become priests.
Families could support their children, so there was no need
to send them to the church, said Braccini. The seminary began
to shrink.
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As a result, the diocese
had neither the funds to run the building nor the students
to justify the need for more funds. Around 1950, the
seminary was closed, and its 50 students were sent to
seminaries in nearby Urbino, Pesaro, and Fano.
The building lay dormant for a while. In the late 1960s,
a clothing factory opened, with the main factory floor
being what is now the main classroom of the Atrium.
The factory did not make very many clothes, nor was
the quality very good, Sabbatini said. Local residents
today are even unsure of the name of the company, or
the kinds of clothes that it produced.
This company fell into trouble when it could not pay
both the rent and the taxes. As a result, it had to
close its doors about 10 to 15 years after it opened.
Once again, the building was vacant. |
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Seeing the potential for the space, Dr. Fransesco
Mansi founded L’istituto di Lingua Italiana
in 1993. The Atrium, as the building is now called,
is a cultural and language institute that immerses
students in the Italian language and culture,
offering a unique learning experience in a small
Italian town.
Today’s Atrium also houses a dance school
and studio, Movimento e Fantasia, and a pre-school. |
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