Italian architect, art historian, Professor Adriano Alpago Novello was born in 1932 in Italy. Novello headed the italian expeditions visited Soviet Armenia in 1967 and 1969 , and in Van, Ani in 1970.. In 1968 he founded and has been heading the Research and Documentation Center of Armenian medieval architecture, in Milan, then, with Hakob and Armen Manukyan brothers created “Dcuments of armenian architecture” ( «Documenti de architettura Armena») series. In 1968, with the support of the Armenian community in Milan organized picture exhitition of medieval Armenian architecture “Armenian Architecture in 4-18 centuries”, which was shown in Italy than in Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, the US, Germany, and Switzerland, Lebanon, Iran. On his initiative in various languages published numerous studies and articles telling about the Armenian and Georgian architecture, published an impressive series of photographs, architectural drawings, bibliographic materials. It is very interesting the Italian architect`s “views in architecture.” Alpago Novello`s views of medieval art are not only as a historical phenomenon, but also interprets in terms of the development of modern art. Referring to the Noravank Monastery of Vayots-Dzor, Novello said that the monastery looks like a detached structure, located in a desolate valley in the southern slopes, is almost merged with the surrounding nature, without losing its majesty and splendor. Such cases there are lots of in Armenian architecture. structure, joining the creation of nature, “natural” architecture makes it more complete and perfect. According to Novello such also examples are Areni church and Tanahat monastery, which seems to have been buried in nature and viewer creates a feeling of infinity. Novello paid special attention to the front fret of the main entrance of Noravank, considering it as an exceptional panoramic solutions segment, which is special for architectural school of Vayots Dzor.
Italian architect expressed particular admiration to the ancient monastery of Sanahin and it`s harmony with nature. According to him, this crystalline structure is geometrically perfect, it can be viewed as a specific example of armenian architecture , especially the main structures of the complex are worthy.
“If it will not be ignored as part of the environment, at once will lose charm and will become a simple sculpture, opposite to architectural accurate calculations and flawless solutions,” On his opinion there is no coincidence that the special architectural solutions are similar to the architecture of Italian Renaissance. Ancient architectural solutions of Sanahin Monastery are evidence of the “wisdom ” of Armenian architecture. Along with the traditional practice here comes a whole new set of architectural forms, which concentrated on the structures of the monastery complex, especially in the vestibule.
Alpago Novello, a considerable part of his life devoted to the publication of Christian monographs of armenian architecture. “I want to express my gratitude to my friends because they had great role in the creation of these volumes, but not all are alive.Armen Manukian, Armen Zaryan, Harutyun Kasanjyan, Paolo Kuneo. “With the help of them the Armenian culture spread all over the world, “said Nolvello. Despite the huge amount of work, he thought that he was still not completed his “mission to investigate the armenian architecture.” The italian architect and verifier of armenian architecture died in 2005.
