Tradition and Innovation

PANEL

The intersection of traditional conservation practices and emerging digital technologies represents a pivotal moment in cultural heritage management. Emerging digital technologies are revolutionizing our approach to cultural heritage preservation transforming archival practices, restoration techniques, and cultural artifact documentation.

ICR is exploring how artificial intelligence and advanced digital tools are reshaping approaches to preserving, documenting, and understanding historical artifacts addressing its research towards plurality of stakeholders and easyble and manageable solutions.

By integrating machine learning, computer vision, and data analytics, cultural institutions can now achieve more precise and comprehensive preservation strategies. These technological innovations enable advanced material analysis and enhanced accessibility to cultural heritage, creating new opportunities for interdisciplinary research and public engagement. Several researches especially in the field of enhancement, visualisation and storytelling and conservation (virtual restoration) show the potential of these software.

In this field, ICR has initiated a number of collaborations with research organisations, including CNR ISTI in Pisa and the Opera della Primaziale Pisana, with the aim of focusing research on case studies of relevant interest. The research explores applying neural networks trained on generic datasets to specialized stone material degradation analysis. By using transfer learning, the study aims to develop an AI system capable of detecting subtle surface deterioration patterns in outdoor environments, bridging advanced machine learning techniques with conservation science.

Luigi Oliva

Director of the Central Institute for Restoration at the Ministry of Culture

He holds a degree in Architecture from IUAV, a PhD in History from the University of Salento, and a Master’s degree in Industrial Archaeology from the University of Padua. He has completed postdoctoral research fellowships and served as a research fellow at the University of Salento and the University of Foggia. He has also been a subject expert in the History of Architecture (University of Salento), Architectural Design (University of Sassari), and Cultural Heritage Legislation (School of Specialization in Architectural and Landscape Heritage, Sapienza University of Rome). Previously, he served as an official at the Appia Antica Archaeological Park (Ministry of Culture), where he was responsible for territorial protection, site management, and the design of restoration and enhancement projects for historic assets and contexts. He has taught Urban Archaeology at the University of Sassari and collaborated with the Medieval Archaeology and Political-Economic Geography laboratories at the University of Salento. He has also participated in numerous archaeological excavations and academic research initiatives. As a freelance professional, he has developed restoration and conservation projects for historical and architectural heritage. He regularly writes and publishes on topics related to restoration, architectural history, historical-archaeological landscapes, and architectural and urban design.

Serena Di Gaetano

Senior conservator - restorer at ICR (stone and mosaic laboratories)

Serena Di Gaetano is a senior conservator-restorer with a strong academic and professional background in art history and restoration of cultural heritage. She earned her degree in Art History from the University of Bologna in 2005, followed by a specialisation in 2008. In 2015, she completed her second degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at the University of Turin. Most recently, she pursued a PhD at the University of Basilicata (expected 2025), focusing on rock-cut contexts and hypogean environments. Since 2018 is a public servant in the position of conservator-restorer at the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro (ICR), working within the stone and mosaic laboratories. Her responsibilities include teaching stone and mosaic conservation, project planning, and consultancy for institutions and organisations, primarily within the scope of the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). Her research interests and her publications centre on the polychromy of stone surfaces and ancient mosaic tecniques, on classical and medieval decorative systems, on the value of Cultural Heritage and on the conservation of complex and fragile environments.

Claudio Santangelo

3d expert a ICR (Documentation department)

Claudio Santangelo is an 3d expert working at the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro (ICR), currently serving in the Documentation department. He has a degree in visual arts disciplines (Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, 1998) and a freelance experience in digital documentation and photography. Since 2000 he works for the Ministry of Culture and since 2016 at ICR. His responsibilities include teaching and tutoring at Master degree course in Conservation and Restoration in Rome and Matera (Photogrammetry, Survey Techniques and 3d scanning) and consultancy for institutions and organisations. He leads research initiatives focused on innovative techniques for digital 3D documentation and survey methodologies. He is the ICR advisor at the Ministry for digitalization of cultural heritage.

Lucia Modesto

Graduate student in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at ICR

Lucia is a graduate student in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at ICR Matera. Her passion for stone materials and monumental architectural surfaces has led her to investigate conservation challenges specific to outdoor environments as the focus of her master's thesis. She is currently conducting research on integrating surface analysis data to develop more accessible and comprehensive consultation systems for conservation professionals.

Giulia Severini

Senior conservator - restorer at ICR (stone and mosaic laboratories)

Giulia Severini holds a Master’s Degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage from Istituto Centrale per il Restauro and a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from Sapienza University of Rome. Since 2024, she has been working as a Senior Conservator-Restorer at the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro (ICR). Previously, from 2018 to 2024, she held the same role at the Museo Nazionale Romano where she oversaw the preservation of sculpture, frescoes and mosaics belonging to the collection of the museum and served as a courier, responsible for overseeing the transportation, handling, and installation of artworks for national and international exhibitions. Her expertise lies in the restoration of stone materials, architectural surfaces and mosaics, with focuses on nanotechnology applications for stone preservation and laser cleaning on stone surfaces, having participated in European conservation project (Nano-Cathedral Project) and worked on the large restoration site of the Pisa Cathedral (2016-2018). She authored publications on conservation methodologies and executions techniques. She is also proficient in conservative protocols, artworks handling and packing for safe transportation. She is currently involved in numerous conservative and enhancement projects for the Cultural Heritage, collaborating with non-profit organizations, such as Opera della Primaziale Pisana, with National Research Centers and with Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.