Rosina Wachmeister Rosina Wachmeister is an Austrian artist who has lived in Capena for many years and has worked hard, with her family, to make it a better and more interesting place.
Rosina – as she is affectionately known to everyone in Capena – is famous for her brightly coloured paintings and sculptures, particularly of cats.
Her daughter, Gabila, a very skilled artist in her own right, owns the charming little bar in the corner of Piazza and is responsible for its eclectic decorations.
Battista, Gabila’s son and Rosina’s grandson, studied ceramics in Germany and, together with his friend Nina, is responsible for many of the striking Gaudiesque ceramic and mosaic creations you can see in Capena.
Rosina is a great animal lover and - apart from owning her own mini-menagerie of cats, peacocks and a pelican – has also established a rescue centre for stray dogs.
Capena has recently undergone a major overhaul, with the addition of a new car park that has enabled the square to be pedestrianised. Now that the building work is over and things are getting back to normal, Rosina has generously donated a set of wonderful mosaic benches and sculptures to help the villagers to enjoy their traffic-free surroundings.
These were created over several months by a team of helpers, led by Battista (shown left, sitting on one of his benches) and Nina. The main work is a covered seating area on Via Silla overlooking the car park. This features intricate mosaic seats with animal forms including a huge snake, crocodile and tortoises.
The other benches are located around and within Piazza del Popolo and the Rocca.
Rosina Wachmeister is an Austrian artist who has lived in Capena for many years and has worked hard, with her family, to make it a better and more interesting place.
Capena has re
