Italy invests €44 million in restoration of Real Villa Favorita in Ercolano

The Italian government has allocated €44 million for the restoration of Real Villa Favorita in Ercolano, a historic royal residence designed by Ferdinando Fuga in 1768 and later acquired by King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon. The villa is part of the 122 Vesuvian Villas along the “Miglio d’Oro” (Golden Mile), a stretch of the SS 18 Tirrena Inferiore between Ercolano and Torre del Greco. Funding comes from the PNRR (€32 million), the Agenzia del Demanio, and the PON Cultura e Sviluppo FESR 2014-2020 (€12 million). The project was announced by Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano, who visited the site with Soprintendente Mariano Nuzzo, Fondazione Ente Ville Vesuviane President Gennaro Miranda, and Director General Luigi La Rocca. Sangiuliano emphasized the cultural impact and the need for efficient spending. The restoration aims not only to recover the villa but also to boost local tourism and potentially repurpose spaces for academic use, such as specialization schools or PhD programs. This initiative parallels the larger recovery of the Real Albergo dei Poveri in Naples, also designed by Fuga, which is planned to become a cultural hub housing museum sections, libraries, labs, restaurants, and hotels in collaboration with MANN, University of Naples Federico II, the National Library, and private entities. Additionally, Sangiuliano announced a direct train from Rome to Pompeii will be inaugurated soon, with future plans to extend the service to Ercolano.