Urgnano Municipal Council Funds Castle Restoration Through Salary Reductions

In Urgnano, a town near Bergamo, Italy, the municipal council has financed the restoration of the Castello Albani, a 14th-century Visconti fortress, by voluntarily reducing their own salaries. Since October 2021, the mayor and four councilors have forgone 30% of their annual allowances, generating approximately €24,000 per year for local projects. The recent conservation work, completed in 2025 under the supervision of the regional cultural heritage authority, focused on the Sala delle Quattro Stagioni, restoring its frescoes and wooden ceiling. The initiative is part of a broader administrative policy to invest directly in cultural heritage as a structural investment for the community. By 2027, the total redirected funds for community projects are estimated to reach between €120,000 and €140,000.