Monza Royal Palace: Restoration of the Historic Clock and the South Wing Begins with Support from Louis Vuitton

The Villa Reale and Monza Park Consortium has announced the start of restoration work on the facade of the southern wing of the Royal Palace and the historic tower clock, projects supported by Louis Vuitton as part of its partnership with the Monza monumental complex.

The partnership is part of the Louis Vuitton Dolomites Classic Run 2026, the return to classic car racing organized by the French fashion house. The event will take place from September 1 to 4, 2026, featuring a route from Venice to Monza—conceived as a tribute to the Art of Travel—covering approximately 600 kilometers over two days. On September 3, the participating cars will arrive at the Reggia di Monza, while the following day they will take center stage in a parade inside the Autodromo Nazionale, which has been located in Monza Park since 1922. The cars will remain on display to the public in the Avancorte of the Villa Reale until September 6.

Louis Vuitton, which is also active in the arts through initiatives focused on promotion, outreach, and patronage, has chosen to collaborate with the Villa Reale and Monza Park Consortium by contributing to the restoration and enhancement program for the Royal Palace, which has been underway for years. The agreement specifically covers two projects: the restoration of the large tower clock and that of the facade of the south wing facing the courtyard of honor.

The work on the clock involves restoring the dial and the original decorative elements, preserving the Roman numerals, restoring and rebalancing the hands, and reactivating the mechanism through the installation of new, certified high-strength systems. New structural supports will also be installed to ensure greater stability and protection from the elements.

The facade of the south wing, characterized by a straight cornice featuring eight ornamental vases framing the clock, will undergo consolidation and conservation work aimed at halting deterioration, preserving the original materials, and restoring a clearer view of the architectural structure.

The clock was built in 1839 by the Milanese clockmaker Antonio Torri using a mechanical system of weights and gears designed to ensure precision and continuous operation. The device was intended to mark the daily rhythm of life at the royal residence and in the surrounding area, integrating with the architectural and functional organization of the court.

The presence of a clock at the top of the façade, however, may date back to the original design by architect Giuseppe Piermarini. The matter remains under investigation and could indicate the existence of a mechanism predating the one built by Torri in the 19th century.

“This is a time of great vitality for the Royal Palace of Monza, thanks in part to the collaborative efforts undertaken to restore its treasures and reclaim its identity,” comments Bartolomeo Corsini, General Director of the Villa Reale and Monza Park Consortium. “Another major restoration project—joining those already underway at the Royal Chapel, the gatehouses, and along the perimeter walls—is getting underway thanks to a collaboration with Maison Louis Vuitton. The clock at the Villa Reale is one of the least known yet most fascinating examples not only of 19th-century Lombard public clockmaking, but also of the constant technological and functional modernization of the Monza residence.”

Monza Royal Palace: Restoration of the Historic Clock and the South Wing Begins with Support from Louis Vuitton

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