Restoration in Italy: A Profession Overlooked During Pandemic

The article argues that restoration, a physically hands-on discipline requiring direct contact with artworks, has been largely ignored during Italy's COVID-19 lockdown. Restoration activities have halted, as the profession's ATECO code was not included in the government's gradual reopening decree, nor in earlier closure decrees. Professional associations have protested this omission. The author notes that restoration is often misunderstood as a pseudo-artistic activity rather than a professional conservation practice essential to preserving cultural heritage. Italy holds a vast share of the world's cultural heritage, yet this fact is poorly perceived. The article suggests using the lockdown period for two types of planning: primary planning (pre-restoration analysis, condition assessment, and intervention design, typically submitted to the Soprintendenza for authorization) and strategic planning (scheduling interventions, maintenance, and financing). By juxtaposing financial resources with cultural assets prioritized by intervention type, unexpected data and new ideas may emerge. The author warns that cultural heritage conservation has been sidelined during every crisis in Italy's contemporary history and urges that this trend be reversed through increased visibility and dialogue.