As well as having produced the wonders of Piazza dei Miracoli, the Opera Primaziale Pisana has decisively contributed to maintaining and preserving them. Over the centuries, many adverse events have damaged these monuments: from the fire in the Cathedral in 1595 to the fire of 1944 caused by a bomb that irretrievably defaced the works of the world’s greatest cycle of frescoes in the Monumental Cemetery.
The Opera Primaziale Pisana has constantly been in the forefront of the defence of the treasures it has been entrusted with, mostly relying on its own economic resources and expertise. Its staff have always been engaged in the recovery of works affected by traumatic events and in their ordinary conservation, a commitment which is becoming increasingly difficult as the number of visitors to the square increases.
Many of these works have had a high profile on the international scene. Let’s just mention the static recovery and the stabilisation of the Tower, which have been followed over the last seven years by the restoration of the stone surfaces of the Tower, after which it is now showing off its original colours. Another excellent work is the recovery of what remained of the devastating fire in the Cemetery, which is now about to end with the repositioning of the restored frescoes on the walls.
Many investments have been made over the last few years to improve and train the restorers’ team and to use new technology for the recovery of the works of art.
Add to this the daily work for the management of the Monumental Complex in terms of ordinary maintenance and the handling and reception of its visitors.
So far, the Opera Primaziale Pisana has managed to fund its own efforts by selling admission tickets for the monuments of the square, with few public funds, so that it can be considered an ‘example’ in the management of the national monumental heritage.
However, an increasing technological and professional effort always goes hand in hand with an increasing economic effort so that the heritage that it has inherited can in its turn be handed down to the future generations as a treasure of Faith, Art and Culture.
Because of this, the Opera della Primaziale Pisana has recently opened up to some forms of fruitful cooperation with private and public organisations that are interested in linking their names or brands to the protection of Piazza dei Miracoli, giving a substantial contribution in terms of funds or expertise. There are multiple forms of cooperation, which may concern different restoration works.
