In Milan , the project to restore the 15th-century Paliotto dei Santi for theGolden Altar of the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, one of the most relevant elements of the artistic and liturgical heritage of the Lombard capital, has begun. The intervention is part of a path of protection and enhancement that involves religious institutions, the world of education and private entities, with the aim of preserving a work of extraordinary historical, artistic and symbolic value, ensuring its transmission to future generations.
The restoration will be carried out by students and teachers from the Botticino School of Restoration, a national reference reality for advanced training in the field of cultural heritage conservation. Supporting the project is Banca Ifis, which for years has been committed to the enhancement of culture and the protection of beauty as a lever of sustainable development, through initiatives that bring artistic heritage into dialogue with communities and territories.
The presentation of the initiative was held this morning in the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio. Monsignor Carlo Faccendini, abbot of the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, Martino Troncatti, president of Valore Italia, Elisabetta Boanini, coordinator of Textile Restoration at the Botticino School of Restoration, Maria Luisa Rizzini, historian of embroidery, and Carlo Capponi, conservator of the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, spoke at the meeting. The speeches highlighted the value of the work, the complexity of the conservation intervention and the importance of structured collaboration between different skills.
The project is part of a broader path of cooperation between public institutions, training institutions and private enterprise, aimed at combining high specialization in restoration, knowledge transmission and cultural responsibility. A model that intends to go beyond the simple dimension of technical intervention to take on a broader meaning, in which heritage protection becomes an opportunity for cultural, educational and social growth. The restoration will be conducted under the high supervision of the relevant Superintendence and in constant dialogue with the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, in full respect of the historical, material and symbolic characteristics of the Paliotto. Each phase of the intervention will be monitored to ensure a rigorous scientific approach in line with the most up-to-date standards of cultural heritage conservation.
The Paliotto dei Santi, a central element of the altar and a testimony of extraordinary artistic and devotional value, represents one of the most significant expressions of 15th-century textile art. Its liturgical function and decorative apparatus make it a work of particular delicacy, requiring specialized skills and careful planning of the conservation intervention. Precisely for this reason, the restoration will be based on an in-depth scientific project developed by Professor Elisabetta Boanini, who coordinates the textile restoration area of the Botticino School.
The project includes a preliminary phase of diagnostic analyses, essential to understand the state of conservation of the work and identify structural and material criticalities. This will be followed by targeted conservation operations, designed to stabilize the materials, preserve the decorations and ensure the legibility of the work while respecting its authenticity. All phases of work will be accompanied by timely documentation, which will be an integral part of the project and an important tool for study and insight.
The restoration of the Paliotto dei Santi also represents an important educational opportunity for the students of the Botticino School of Restoration. Students will have the chance to work on a work of exceptional value, working side by side with highly qualified restorers and teachers. This is a learning experience in the field that combines technical excellence, research and training, allowing students to confront the real-life complexity of conservation interventions on historically significant properties. This educational model, which integrates theory and practice, has been one of the strengths of the Botticino School for years and finds concrete application in projects like this one. The restoration site thus becomes not only a place for technical intervention, but also a space for the transmission of knowledge and the building of advanced professional skills, fundamental for the future of cultural heritage conservation.
The support of Banca Ifis is part of the projects of Ifis art, the project dedicated to the promotion of initiatives in favor of culture. Born in 2024 on the initiative of President Ernesto Fürstenberg Fassio, Ifis art aims to be a bridge between the public and private sectors, with the goal of safeguarding and promoting the enjoyment of Italy’s artistic heritage. The bank’s commitment interprets culture as an integral part of a long-term vision, capable of generating not only economic but also social and identity value.
“For our male and female students, this is an extraordinary opportunity for learning in the field, in direct contact with a masterpiece of Italian heritage in the magnificent setting of the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio,” says Valore Italia President Martino Troncatti. “Thanks to the support of Banca Ifis, heritage protection also becomes a transmission of skills and responsibility to the new generations.”
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| Milan, restoration of Paliotto dei Santi for the Golden Altar of St. Ambrose begins |
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