The places of worship dedicated to Simonino in Trento

The cult given over the centuries to little Simonino da Trento had its fulcrum in the chapel of the church of Saints Peter and Paul, in which the body of the child was exposed. Two other sites, Palazzo Salvadori and Palazzo Bortolazzi, are linked with this case, and so their transformation, renovation and restoration over five centuries is recounted by speakers Domizio Cattoi and Maddalena Ferrari.

The meeting is part of a series of appointments proposed by the Museum as part of the exhibition Inventing the culprit.The ‘case’ of Simonino da Trento, from propaganda to history  (open until 13 April 2020). It is dedicated to the 'case' of Simonino da Trento, a child who was a presumed victim of Jewish ritual murder, and venerated for centuries as an innocent 'martyr'. The story, dating back to the 15th century, could be defined today as a resounding fake news of the past, in which anti-Jewish sentiments, devotional needs and ecclesiastical political ambitions are intertwined. The exhibition aims to draw the public's attention to one of the darkest pages of anti-Semitism, to stimulate reflection on the mechanisms of 'building the enemy' and the power of propaganda.