Restoration at Palazzo Reale in Milan Ahead of 2026 Olympics

The Scuola di Restauro di Botticino, a national reference for restorer training for over fifty years, is conducting extraordinary restoration work at Palazzo Reale in Milan. Founded in 1974 with support from Regione Lombardia and the then Istituto Centrale per il Restauro, the school operates within the Valore Italia project. The intervention, commissioned by the Comune di Milano and supported by Pirelli, began in October 2025. It focuses on the noble route of the palace, including the restoration of a 19th-century Carrara marble bust of Napoleon, maintenance of the grand staircase's surfaces, painted plasters, and historical furnishings. The work aims to restore aesthetic continuity and historical dignity ahead of a major international event: on February 6, 2026, the palace will host President Sergio Mattarella and foreign delegations for the inauguration of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Students and teachers of the school are conducting the restoration, gaining technical skills and civic awareness. Martino Troncatti, president of Valore Italia, emphasized that training involves projects combining study, practice, and public service.