The Lazio Region of Rome and Italy's Ministry of Culture are undertaking a €35 million ($41.1 million) restoration of Villa Silvestri Rivaldi, a historic palazzo overlooking the Colosseum that has long fallen into disrepair. Originally commissioned by Pope Paul III in the 1540s and designed by Sangallo the Younger with gardens by Giacomo Del Duca, the villa has housed cardinals, served as a convent, textile factory, welfare institution, and school, and was even used by squatters and hostage-takers in the 1970s. Early restoration work since 2024 has focused on stabilizing the structure and cleaning its frescoes with laser technology, with full-scale restorations set to begin in 2026.
The project matters because it rescues a culturally and historically rich site that had been neglected for decades, ensuring public access and state stewardship for future generations. The restoration also promises to reconstruct the historical topography of central Rome through its gardens, and the villa is already partially open to the public through early 2026. The Lazio Region has committed €25 million to acquire the property, with future management to be handled by a foundation of public and private partners, signaling a significant investment in preserving Italy's artistic heritage.