Caput Mundi: Villa Doria Pamphilj - Exedra of the theatre garden and Nymphaeum of the Tritons: restoration of decorative elements and lighting enhancement of the complex

Caput Mundi Next Generation EU for touristic great events (Mission 1, Component 3, Investment 4.3)

Italy’s Recovery and Resilience Plan increases the number of accessible tourist sites in Rome, creating valid and qualified tourist and cultural alternatives with respect to the crowded central areas, as well as increasing the use of digital technologies, enhance green areas and the sustainability of tourism. The investment envisages six lines of interventions:
1. “Roman Cultural Heritage for EU-Next Generation”, covering the regeneration and restoration of cultural and urban heritage and complexes of high historical-architectural value of the city of Rome;
2. “Jubilee paths” (from pagan to Christian Rome), targeted to the enhancement, safety, anti-seismic consolidation, restoration of places and buildings of historical interest and archaeological pathways;
3. #LaCittàCondivisa, covering the redevelopment of sites in peripheral areas;
4. #Mitingodiverde, covering interventions on parks, historical gardens, villas and fountains;
5. #Roma 4.0, covering the digitalization of cultural services and the development of apps for tourists;
6. #Amanotesa, aimed at increasing the supply of cultural offer to peripheries for social integration.

The investment is financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility by EUR 500 million and includes this project.
The project aims to restore the Exedra and Nymphaeum complexes by addressing structural damage, surface degradation, and water system failures. Key interventions include reinforcing walls, repairing decorative elements and statues, removing invasive vegetation, renovating water features, and upgrading lighting to preserve and enhance these historic sites. This project is financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility with EUR 1261000. The Exedra is in a poor state of preservation, with widespread surface degradation and infestation by vegetation. Two of the twenty pots on the balustrade have damaged rims, and the replica of the Neptune statue at the center was destroyed in April 2020. Additionally, large cracks appeared in the perimeter wall on the north-western side due to the 2016 earthquake. Planned interventions for the Exedra include historical and stylistic restoration, reinforcement of the north-western wall, surface cleaning, restoration of original decorative elements, renovation of the water system, repair of the balustrade pots, reconstruction of the Neptune statue replica, and lighting upgrades to enhance the structure. The Nymphaeum complex is also in poor condition, particularly regarding the fountain’s water supply. Restoration efforts will focus on removing invasive vegetation roots from the upper part of the fountain cave, reinforcing wall decorations, restoring the original water features by renovating the water system, repairing and decorating the access gate and adjoining gate, renovating the replica of the Pan statue, and enhancing the lighting throughout the complex.