Open Letter Challenges Restoration Methods at Villa Lante

An open letter by art historian Salvatore Enrico Anselmi questions the restoration of Villa Lante in Bagnaia, Viterbo. The project, funded with €7 million from PNRR, began January 15, 2026, and includes fountain restoration, green area redevelopment, and water feature reactivation. Managed by the Direzione regionale Musei Nazionali Lazio and executed by Feiffer & Raimondi, the work has drawn criticism for allegedly removing historical patina from stone surfaces. Anselmi poses ten specific questions to responsible authorities, including the rationale for aggressive cleaning, the impact on future conservation, and the lack of less invasive technologies like laser cleaning. No official responses have been issued yet.