The restoration project ofthe 15th-century altar frontal depicting the saints for the Golden Altar of the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, one of the most significant elements of the artistic and liturgical heritage of the city of Milan, is underway. The project will be carried out by students and teachers from the Botticino School of Restoration, with thesupport ofBanca Ifis, which has been committed for years to promoting culture and protecting beauty as a lever for sustainable development.
The presentation of the initiative, held this morning at the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, was attended byMonsignor Carlo Faccendini, Abbot of the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, andMartino Troncatti, President of Valore Italia,Elisabetta Boanini, Textile Restoration Coordinator at the Botticino School of Restoration,Maria Luisa Rizzini, embroidery historian, andCarlo Capponi, Curator of the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio.
The project is part of a broader collaboration between institutions, the world of education, and business, with the aim of combininghigh specialization in restoration,knowledge transfer, andcultural responsibility. The restoration will be carried out under the supervision ofthe relevant Superintendencyand in constant dialogue with the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, with full respect for the historical, material, and symbolic characteristics of the work.
The altar frontal, a central element of the altar and a testimony to extraordinary artistic and devotional value, will undergo extensive conservation work based on a scientific project developed byProf. Elisabetta Boanini, which includes diagnostic analyses, targeted conservation operations, and detailed documentation of the various stages of the work.
The restoration also representsanimportanttraining opportunityfor students at the Botticino School of Restoration, who will work alongside highly qualified restorers and teachers, following a model that combines technical excellence, research, and learning in the field.
Banca Ifis' support is part of Ifis art, a project dedicated to promoting cultural initiatives. Launched in 2024 on the initiative of Chairman Ernesto Fürstenberg Fassio,Ifis artacts as a bridge between the public and private sectors to safeguard and promote the enjoyment of Italy's artistic heritage. This commitment interprets culture as an integral part of a long-term vision, capable of generating value for local areas, communities, and new generations.
“For our students, this is an extraordinary opportunity to learn in the field, in direct contact with a masterpiece of Italian heritage in the magnificent setting of the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio,”says Martino Troncatti, President of Valore Italia.“Thanks to the support of Banca Ifis,protecting our heritage also becomes a way of passing on skills and responsibility to the younger generations.”
