In Ferrara the 30th edition of the International Restoration Fair: the program

Ferrara is preparing to host the thirtieth edition of Restauro, the International Exhibition of Cultural and Environmental Heritage that, from May 14 to 16, 2025, will once again enliven the fairgrounds of the Este city. An event that, three decades after its first edition, confirms itself as a point of reference for the restoration, conservation and enhancement of historical, artistic and architectural heritage supply chain, bringing together public and private operators, institutions, universities, research bodies and technological companies. Certified according to the ISO 25639:2008 standard by ISFCERT, the Fair presents itself as a permanent laboratory for comparison, research and updating, with more than one hundred exhibitors, dozens of conferences and a busy calendar of appointments that will involve the main protagonists of the sector.

At the heart of the event is the balance between safeguarding historical memory and experimenting with cutting-edge operational solutions. The 2025 edition will feature an articulated exhibition proposal, capable of accommodating the most innovative sectors of diagnostics, plant engineering, digitization, cleaning and specialized restoration, without neglecting the educational and sustainability-related dimensions. Alongside large companies, start-ups, research institutes, museums and universities will find space, with projects ranging from remote monitoring technologies to state-of-the-art materials for surface conservation.

"Thirty years of RESTAURO represents not only a symbolic anniversary, but the testimony of a solid and shared path in the world of heritage conservation and enhancement," says Andrea Moretti, president of Ferrara Expo. “The event has been able to evolve with the sector, strengthening its role as a dynamic space for the meeting of professionals, knowledge and technologies. The 2025 edition is proposed as a pivotal moment to reflect on the changes taking place and promote an integrated vision between historical memory and operational innovation. Ferrara Expo thus confirms itself as a platform of reference, where dialogue takes shape and translates into new strategies for the future of the industry.”

“The city of Ferrara,” comments Marco Gulinelli, Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Ferrara, "is preparing to host the 30th edition of RESTAURO one of the national and international reference events for the sector of conservation, enhancement and management of cultural heritage. An important milestone that confirms Ferrara as a meeting point between tradition and innovation, between institutional, scientific and productive excellence. RESTAURO is not only an exhibition event, but a real laboratory of comparison, where companies, professionals, public bodies, universities, research centers and cultural operators meet."

The academic world will be strongly represented: the universities of Bologna, Ferrara, Padua, Venice IUAV and Naples will bring to the event stands, exhibitions and conferences that combine theory and practice, scientific research and direct application. Also particularly relevant are the activities promoted by Formedil - the single national body for training and safety in construction - which will offer demonstrations and workshops focused on plaster, wallpaper, frescoes, wood paintings and murals, with the involvement of Building Schools throughout Italy.

Institutional presence and the role of the Ministry of Culture

On the institutional level, the event will benefit from the support of the Ministry of Culture, which will be present with a coordinated exhibition area and more than fifty appointments, including presentations of construction sites, case studies and comparisons between Superintendencies, ministerial institutes and sector operators. A section where it will be possible to touch on experiences gained on some of the most significant conservation interventions. The international presence will be fostered by the collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ICE Agency, which will accompany high-profile foreign delegations. Also central is the contribution of Assorestauro, a historic partner of the event, which will organize technical comparisons and demonstrations on innovative materials and methods in Hall 3. The contribution of the banking system will not be lacking, with Intesa Sanpaolo ready to share the results of the Restituzioni project, carried out in synergy with MIC and dedicated to the recovery of artistic heritage on a national scale.

Technologies and tools at the service of conservation

Among the focuses of the new edition will be the experience of the Emilia-Romagna Regional Agency for Reconstruction and the Cultural Heritage Sector, which will present projects developed after the 2012 earthquake, while ENEL will focus on architectural lighting and the enhancement of assets through advanced technologies. ENEA will offer an overview of its projects dedicated to conservation, including the reproduction of Pharaoh Ramses II’s head, treated with gamma irradiation to remove the white patina formed by microorganisms, and the SHRINEs initiative, centered on the safety of places of worship. AIDI and APIL will contribute meetings on the new frontiers of lighting for heritage.

The Salone will also host Restoration Week (May 12-16), promoted by MAECI, ICE and Assorestauro: five days dedicated to Italian restoration excellence, with more than fifty delegates from eighteen countries. The program includes an itinerary between Veneto and Emilia-Romagna, discovering symbolic Made in Italy construction sites, from Venice to Padua to the Euganean Hills, with a final stop in Ferrara, where international visitors will visit the Cathedral construction site and participate in the fair. Among the top events: the States General of Restoration, which will officially open the event with a discussion between institutions, universities and businesses on the theme of memory and design transition. The day will be moderated by Alessandro Ippoliti, pro-rector of the University of Ferrara.

Conferences, previews and pioneering projects.

Assorestauro will offer a series of meetings on strategic topics, from the Fabbrica di San Pietro to the energy efficiency of historic buildings and projects related to the PNRR that integrate cultural heritage with virtual reality and new technologies. The Archaeological Park of the Colosseum will preview the 3D survey of the amphitheater, while the Archaeological Park of Pompeii will speak on conservation and site enhancement methodologies. Finally, the booth curated by the National Automobile Museum and the "La VenariaReale" Conservation and Restoration Center Foundation will offer a novel interpretation of restoration applied to historic vehicles, completing a panorama rich in proposals, experiences and expertise.

Access to the event is free of charge, subject to mandatory registration on the official website www.salonedelrestauro.com.

In Ferrara the 30th edition of the International Restoration Fair: the program

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