English
Very close to Piazza del Popolo in Rome´s historic center, there is a small business among trendy shops and fast food establishments that often goes unnoticed by tourists. Its sign reads “Restaurici Artistici Squatriti: Ospedale delle wobbled,” ie, the tiny restoration shop of the Squatriti family, a doll hospital where old toys are treated with care and delicacy.
Known to the Romans as “the shop of horror” of the city due to its disturbing window full of heads, arms and legs of dolls and a collection of figures of owls, is a place that deserves to be seen, if only by the singularity of its activity.
Currently run by Federico and his mother Squatriti Gesolmina, of 76 years old, this particular hospital mix toy soldiers, puppets, Etruscan vases and forgotten antiques surrounded by the smell of plaster and wax and the feeling that time has stopped. This is a family where art restoration is transmitted every generation. The Squatriti, from Naples, were a family of actors in the Second World War. Hunger and poverty led to Frederick´s grandfather to learn the business of restoration and transmitted it to the whole family, fascinated by the magic of a small business that repaired porcelain. Since then, all of them are dedicated to the art of healing dolls.
Although today, the business of restoring ancient Rome has been disappearing with the pace of modern life and few are those who resist, in this little shop of just over 15 square meters, two owners work tirelessly. Twelve hours a day, time to usually repair from 4 to 5 pieces. Most are wooden dolls or made of paper mache during the XIX Century, a period that they were considered, for its beauty, as objects of contemplation and not toys. Now, they are family memories that are to be retained, or pieces of collectors, and their customers come from as far away as Tokyo or New York.
Each doll is treated with extreme care and dedication and once the work is delivered its owner receives a booklet with the diagnosis and the repair it has suffered, in addition to care instructions that the owner should seek. Prices vary, depending on the job, but usually the factor that determines prices is the time spent on the repair.
The old business enthusiasts can also visit the store Cesaretti Pierina called Clinica delle bambole (Clinic wrists) which also repair and sell antique dolls. It is in the same area of ??the Piazza del Popolo, in Via Flaminia 58.
Address: Via di Ripetta 29
Metro: Line A, Flaminio
If you´re nostalgic you will love seeing the old part of Rome and visit these so unique historical business. Do not miss the opportunity to discover the secrets of the eternal city and book one of our apartments in Rome
