Opera Laboratori Expands into Restoration by Acquiring Fratelli Navarra: Opera Navarra Is Born

Opera Laboratori, one of Italy’s leading companies in museum production and cultural heritage management, is expanding its presence in the field of monumental restoration and the enhancement of Italy’s cultural heritage throughthe acquisition of Fratelli Navarra, a leading national firm specializing in conservation work on monuments and architectural heritage. The transaction gives rise to Opera Navarra, a new entity dedicated to the care, restoration, and maintenance of Italy’s historical and artistic heritage, combining the expertise developed by the two companies and further strengthening the group’s position in the cultural heritage sector.

The transaction was presented today, Tuesday, July 21, in the Sala Bassetti of the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, during a meeting attended by top executives, featuring opening remarks by Angelo Lorenzo Crespi, general director of the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Cenacolo Vinciano, and remarks by Giuseppe Costa, President and CEO of the Opera Laboratori Group, and Attilio Maria Navarra, CEO of Opera Navarra, who outlined the initiative’s development prospects and the strategic rationale behind the acquisition.

With this transaction, the Opera Laboratori Group consolidates its position while simultaneously expanding its activities in the field of monumental restoration. The integration of the historic company Fratelli Navarra allows the group to add highly specialized expertise in an area that represents one of the most delicate and specialized sectors of national artistic heritage conservation.

The projects in which the acquired company is involved are spread throughout the Italian peninsula and include some of Italy’s most important monuments and historical-artistic complexes. From Rome to St. Peter’s Basilica, from the Royal Palace of Caserta to the Sforza Castle in Milan, and on to the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, the restorers, architects, engineers, technical directors, and managers who now form part of the Opera Laboratori Group have gained extensive experience through some of the most significant restoration projects of recent decades.

This initiative thus brings into the group a wealth of technical knowledge built up in the field through complex projects of great historical and artistic significance. This professional expertise complements the skills already present in the various companies that make up Opera Laboratori, creating an even more comprehensive structure capable of managing the entire process of cultural heritage enhancement—from the physical conservation of works to their presentation and public engagement.

Founded in 1999, Fratelli Navarra has established itself over more than twenty-five years of activity as one of Italy’s leading firms in monumental restoration and in the planned and preventive maintenance of works of art and architectural heritage. Over the years, the company has carried out projects at some of the most iconic sites of Italy’s cultural heritage, contributing to the preservation of monumental complexes of extraordinary historical and artistic value.

Among its major projects are St. Peter’s Square in Rome—one of Christianity’s most iconic sites—the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, the Sforza Castle in Milan, the Royal Villa of Monza, the Royal Palace of Caserta, and the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. These projects demonstrate the company’s ability to operate in extremely diverse contexts, addressing conservation challenges ranging from monumental architecture to archaeological complexes, from religious buildings to large historic palaces.

The company’s entry into the Opera Laboratori Group was finalized on June 16 with the acquisition of a majority stake. That transaction represented the first step in a broader project, which subsequently culminated in the company’s transformation into Opera Navarra, formalized on July 13 along with the appointment of new corporate officers. Today’s public presentation thus marks the completion of a corporate journey that redefines the company’s role within the group. The acquisition represents not only an expansion of operations but also a significant strengthening of human resources and professional expertise. In fact, more than 150 highly qualified professionals are joining the group, including conservators, architects, engineers, technical directors, and managers who have gained extensive experience in the field of monumental conservation.

These professionals complement an already highly diverse range of expertise that characterizes the Opera Laboratori Group. The organization includes art historians, archaeologists, visual artists, architects, set designers, registrars, scientific curators of exhibitions, exhibition designers, carpenters, textile conservators, digital designers, graphic designers, editorial editors, visual merchandisers, social media managers, reception staff, education and museum services staff, event managers, tour operators, journalists, production coordinators, cameramen, and photographers.

The stated goal is to bring together diverse areas of expertise that can collaborate effectively to address all phases of cultural heritage promotion, from the conservation of artworks to the design of exhibition itineraries, educational activities, digital tools, and communication initiatives.

Today, the Opera Laboratori group’s activities extend to over eighty museums across Italy, including public institutions, ecclesiastical museums, and private organizations. Each year, these venues collectively welcome more than fifteen million visitors, who are offered services ranging from museum management to cultural planning, from communication to educational activities.

The expansion resulting from the acquisition of Fratelli Navarra has brought the Opera Laboratori Group’s total number of employees to approximately one thousand, spread across ten Italian regions and twenty-one cities. Its main operational offices are located in Milan, Bologna, Genoa, Florence, Siena, Livorno, and Rome, reflecting a well-established presence throughout the country. From a financial standpoint, the group generates revenue of 130 million euros, confirming its position as one of Italy’s leading operators in the management and promotion of cultural heritage.

“With Opera Navarra,” explains Giuseppe Costa, Chairman and CEO of the Opera Laboratori Group, “we are building a fundamental pillar of our growth strategy: we are no longer limiting ourselves to preserving, promoting, and communicating cultural heritage, but are also fully engaging in its physical restoration—the kind that begins on the construction site and through the work of restorers. It is an investment in expertise, in people, and in a long-term vision for the care of our country’s cultural heritage. It is clear that at this point, the Opera Laboratori Group will be able to offer, through its subsidiaries, a clear strategic vision for Italian cultural heritage; through Opera Navarra, assistance in restoration; through Sillabe, publishing and merchandising; through Studio3, video production and multimedia content; with Opera San Gimignano for the restoration and redevelopment of cultural heritage sites, and with Papesse Immobiliare for a contemporary vision of culture—all while maintaining the high standards of quality that continue to make Opera Laboratori a national leader in the management, promotion, and communication of public, ecclesiastical, and private cultural heritage.”

“Joining the Opera Laboratori Group,” comments Attilio Maria Navarra, CEO of Opera Navarra, “means for us looking to the future with an even more solid foundation, without compromising what has set us apart for over twenty-five years: artisanal attention to detail and technical rigor on every construction site. Under our new identity as Opera Navarra, we will continue to serve our clients and partners with the same standard of reliability as always, while being able to rely on a broader organizational structure and new opportunities for growth. We are ready to capitalize on the synergies that joining such a well-structured group will undoubtedly offer us—synergies that will be put to work for our clients.”

Opera Laboratori Expands into Restoration by Acquiring Fratelli Navarra: Opera Navarra Is Born

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