As part of the “Arte Fuori dal Museo” project, the Diana, Universo, and Scalinata di Spagna hotels in Rome will present three Imperial-era Roman works from the storage rooms of the Ostia antica archaeological park. In collaboration with Federalberghi Lazio, LoveItaly, the Ministry of Culture, and Fondazione Roma, the initiative aims to make precious artifacts, previously unexhibited, accessible to the public, having been confined to the darkness of museum storage for decades.

With an official presentation scheduled for April 9th, as part of “Arte Fuori dal Museo,” an initiative promoted by Federalberghi Lazio, in collaboration with the non-profit LoveItaly ETS, the Directorate General of Museums of the Ministry of Culture, and Fondazione Roma, Hotel Diana presents “Ostia Antica va in città“: the exhibition of three Imperial-era works from the storage rooms of the Ostia Antica Archaeological Park, restored to their original splendour, and currently on display at its headquarters and in the lobbies of the Hotel Universo and the Hotel Scalinata di Spagna.

“As in the majority of Italian museums and cultural sites, approximately 70% of the works are kept in storage and only a fifth of Ostia’s collection, due to lack of space, is on display,” explains Alessandro D’Alessio, director of the Ostia Antica Archaeological Park, and “identifying new ways to publicize Italy’s heritage was therefore a strongly supported initiative by Massimo Osanna, Director General of Museums of the Ministry of Culture. Many works are exhibited at ministries and institutions, but they are not always accessible to visitors. This is why hotels, transit hubs for thousands of people every year, represent the ideal setting for exhibitions, helping to shape the country’s image. We are confident that the positive outcome of this operation will trigger a virtuous cycle and encourage new loans to new facilities. But I also hope that tourists on their third or fourth trip to the capital, intrigued by the works on display, will come to visit the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica.“

Gleaming in the display cases of the three hotels, members of the Federalberghi Committee of Historic Hotels of Rome, are the marble heads of two matrons and the fresco of a deity, all dating back to the 2nd century AD: Faustina the Elder, august wife of Emperor Antoninus Pius, a symbol of female imperial power and future deity in the vast Roman pantheon, at the Hotel Diana. Guest of Hotel Universo is her sister-in-law and co-mother-in-law Domitia Lucilla, wealthy noblewoman and mother of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. At the top of the steps of the Spanish Steps, one of the three Fates, Lachesis, the goddess charged with measuring the thread of life, stands, restored to her original colors.

The project began with a memorandum of understanding between the General Directorate of Museums of the Ministry of Culture, the nonprofit LoveItaly, and Federalberghi Lazio, benefiting from the financial support of the Fondazione Roma, which provided a grant to partially cover the various interventions. Other sponsors of the initiative include Gruppo Mag, a historic insurance broker, and Montenovi, a company specializing in the transport and assembly of works of art.

“We welcomed this initiative with great enthusiasm from the very beginning,” says Carlo De Angelis, managing director of the Hotel Diana and former president of the Committee of Historic Hotels of Rome. “Our goal has always been to offer an experience that goes beyond a simple stay. Therefore, thanks to the presence of these works, we ensure that our guests not only visit Rome, but also experience its history from the moment they arrive at the hotel. This represents a renewed dialogue between the excellence of Roman hospitality and the region’s millennia-old history.”

For the president of Federalberghi Lazio, Walter Pecoraro, “the signing of the memorandum of understanding for the display of museum works in our Association’s member hotels in Rome and the region has been a source of satisfaction and pride for Federalberghi Lazio. It has long been our desire to establish a partnership that could enhance tourism through the combination of art and culture,” with a project that “in addition to promoting hotel hospitality in Rome and Lazio, brings to light a hidden heritage that tourists can enjoy as an integral part of our hospitality.”

Now, “this wonderful collaboration today returns extraordinary treasures to the city and gives visitors from all over the world the opportunity to be fascinated by little-known Italian works of art,” notes Richard Hodges, president of LoveItaly.

Gianfranco Ferroni, 03 aprile 2026 | © Riproduzione riservata

https://www.ilgiornaledellarte.com/Mostre/Da-Ostia-Antica-tre-opere-di-eta-imperiale-in-mostra-negli-alberghi-romani

Image shows the marble bust of Faustina Maggiore post-restoration

L'articolo Three Imperial-era works from Ostia antica on show in Roman hotels proviene da Love Italy.

Speakers: Fabio Porzio Gabriella Caterini Carola Tavazzi

The restoration of Telemachus— the statue depicts the son of Ulysses and Penelope and is located at the entrance to the Academy—provides an important opportunity to explore the work of Luigi Bienaimé (Carrara 1795 – Rome 1878) and his relationship with the institution, where he was appointed professor of sculpture in 1844.

The project will reconstruct the history of the work (created around 1835). A replica was donated to the Carrara Academy and a marble version purchased in 1839 by Tsar Alexander II Romanov is now housed at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

Particular attention will be paid to the study of the execution technique, the conservation history, and the restoration methods currently applied to the plaster surfaces, the work’s original material.

The restoration is made possible thanks to the valuable contribution of Pierluigi Toti, Cavaliere del Lavoro, and will be carried out by restorers Gabriella Caterini and Carola Tavazzi of Artificia Consorzio.

The restoration campaign is part of the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca’s long-standing tradition of protecting and enhancing its extraordinary artistic heritage.

The campaign was carried out in collaboration with LoveItaly, under the scientific supervision of Fabio Porzio, curator of the Accademia’s collection, and in agreement with the Special Superintendence for Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape of Rome.

Other planned restorations include Berthel Thorvaldsen’s Venere con Mela – included in Art Outside the Museum, an initiative promoted within the framework of the MOU between the Directorate General of Museums of the Ministry of Culture, LoveItaly, and Federalberghi Lazio, with the contribution of Hotel Nord Nuova Roma. The work, carried out by Cecilia Balzi and Rebecca Picca Orlandi, will restore the sculpture’s historical and artistic value and reintegrate it into the neoclassical exhibition of the Galleria dei Gessi, alongside the artist’s other works.

In addition, with the authorization of the Special Superintendency for Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape of Rome, the bas-reliefs Alexander in the Chariot (1812) and Priam Supplicating Achilles for the Return of the Body of Hector (1815) by Berthel Thorvaldsen, both donated to the Academy in 1844 by the artist’s executors, will be restored. This project was also made possible thanks to the valuable contribution of Pierluigi Toti and will be carried out by restorers Gabriella Caterini and Carola Tavazzi of Artificia Consortium.

Free admission while seats last.

L'articolo Open workshop for Luigi Bienaimé’s Telemachus proviene da Love Italy.

All the works on display at the hotels are loans granted under the protection of the Protocol, signed between the Directorate General of Museums of the Ministry of Culture, Federalberghi Lazio, and LoveItaly, which aims to disseminate and democratize Italy’s cultural heritage. The works were previously preserved in museum storage because they require restoration before being exhibited and funding is lacking. As is the case in almost every country around the world, there are thousands, indeed millions, of objects waiting their turn in the spotlight.

The virtuous circle of Art Outside the Museum offers a special spotlight: display in a hotel in the capital and the opportunity to share its history with residents and visitors. Each host hotel provides funds for the restoration of the artwork it houses, as well as the display case and transportation. The restoration of a historic work also offers numerous opportunities to deepen understanding of the artifact through the research that accompanies the intervention and, in many cases, the study of the materials and methods used.

Each work tells its own story; together, they tell important pieces of the history of us all.

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Ciste | Etruscan Beauty Case

Palazzo Dama, Lungotevere Arnaldo da Brescia | Hotel Dom, Via Giulia

on loan from Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia

Etruscan women enjoyed an independence and freedom of movement similar to modern times. They could participate in public life on a par with men and had the right to own property and run businesses. Beauty rituals were also practiced, as demonstrated by the objects on display at the hotels, Palazzo Dama and Hotel DOM, on loan from the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia.

The ciste —bronze cylinders, often with lids and handles decorated and engraved with meaningful scenes—were the equivalent of today’s beauty cases, used by women to hold toiletries, hair care products, and nail polish. They were often given to brides as a wedding gift.

The large cista at Palazzo Dama is notable for its engraved scene of the future bridegroom listening to advice before taking up arms and departing, and for the woman preparing to bathe; while the cista at Hotel Dom is a little jewel, adorned with a panther and with the feet of a griffin. The display case also holds a small bronze head of great beauty—perhaps a portrait of Turan, the Etruscan goddess of beauty – whose hair hides the hinge that provided access to the perfumed ointments inside.

Roman women are also represented, starting with another goddess of beauty—the Greco-Roman Aphrodite/Venus.

The famous bronze masterpiece created by Praxiteles for the Temple of Cnidos—which depicts the goddess bathing, strikingly naked—inspired many copies… fortunately, because the original has been lost.

The head of Aphrodite of Knidos on display at the Albergo del Senato bears signs of submersion in water, likely in the harbor of ancient Centumcellae (present-day Civitavecchia). But these signs in no way obscure the beauty of the portrait, whose size and weight (60 kg) suggest a statue in the port to protect seafarers.

Part of the collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Civitavecchia (ROME), the loan is provided by the Museum with the Direzione Regionale Musei Lazio. 

Head di Aphrodite of Knidos

Hotel del Senato, Piazza della Rotonda

The statue of the Goddess Roma (or Virtus), also made of marble, is on display at the Bettoja Hotel Mediterraneo. Wearing an Amazonian-inspired costume, the goddess carries weapons and a helmet, representing not only the powerful capital of the Roman Empire but also a coveted quality of that culture—virtus. The statue, whose provenance is lost, will return to the National Roman Museum in Palazzo Massimo at the end of its term.

Goddess Rome or Virtus

Bettoja Hotel Mediterraneo, Via Cavour

On loan from Museo Nazionale Romano

Earthly power is also represented by two powerful women: Empress Faustina the Elder and Domitia Lucilla, mother of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The sisters-in-law are exhibited on the same street, at the Hotel Diana and the Hotel Universo.

Domitia Lucilla, a noblewoman of almost modern beauty, made herself famous in history for her modesty and kindness, despite the wealth she possessed.

Portrait of Domitia Lucilla

Hotel Universo, via di Principe Amedeo

on loan from Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica

The marble heads were found during the excavation of Ostia Antica and are on loan from the Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica, as is the last work which comes from the Necropolis of Porto at Isola Sacra.

Portrait of Faustina the Elder

Faustina the Elder, wife of Emperor Antoninus Pius, was deified after her death by her husband, and a temple erected to their names still stands imposingly in the Imperial Forums.

Hotel Diana, Via Principe Amedeo

on loan from Parco archeologico di Ostia Antica

The tour ends with perhaps the most powerful woman of all—the mythological Fate: Lachesis. She shared the task of determining human destiny with her two sisters: Clotho spun the thread of an individual’s life, Lachesis measured it and determined its length, and relentless Athropos cut it. Not even the Olympian gods were exempt.

the Fate Lachesis

Hotel Scalinata di Spagna, Piazza Trinità dei Monti

on loan from Parco archeologico di Ostia Antica

The fresco—on loan to the Hotel Scalinata di Spagna—reminds us to fully appreciate the beauty of life… not a difficult task from the top of Piazza Trinità dei Monti with its unparalleled view of Rome.

go to Arte Fuori dal Museo

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Many thanks to:

Fondazione Roma

Fondazione Ludovico degli Uberti

L'articolo Discover “Art Out of the Museum” in Rome proviene da Love Italy.

The conservation and restoration work was made possible thanks to a public-private partnership involving the Capri Archaeological Museums and Parks, the KHR McNeely Family Foundation, with support from LoveItaly.

“The restoration of the bishop’s throne on Capri is another example of LoveItaly’s significant work, which we are proud to support,” says the KHR McNeely Family Foundation.

The restored throne was presented on 4 December 2025.

“This project marks the beginning of a new phase for our Institute,” says Francesco Sirano, delegated officer for the direction of the Archaeological Park of Capri, “and is part of a path of shared valorization of the island’s artistic heritage, thanks to an increasingly concrete synergy with the world of private donations.”

“The valorization of museum deposits,” concludes the Director General of Museums, Massimo Osanna, “is one of the fundamental missions of the General Directorate of Museums: it allows us to restore visibility and meaning to a heritage that is often invisible but of extraordinary interest, activating new forms of fruition and knowledge. Results like today’s are also made possible thanks to public-private collaboration, which represents-as in this case-a virtuous practice to be promoted and enhanced.”

The KHR McNeely Family Foundation, formed by Kevin, Rosemary and Hanna Rose McNeely, made a crucial contribution to fund the intervention, while LoveItaly offered organizational and promotional support. The organization has long been committed to the enhancement of Capri’s cultural heritage, supporting initiatives aimed at preserving and publicizing the island’s historical and artistic testimonies.

L'articolo Capri’s rare 18th century Bishops Throne proviene da Love Italy.

Careful restoration work has restored the ancient altarpiece depicting the Virgin of the Angels and Child to its former splendor, and it has returned to the confraternity church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Gallipoli (Lecce).

The crowdfunding campaign continues to fund the restoration of a traditional papier-mâché statue of Christ. Help the Confraternity bring their treasured statue back to its place beneath the altar …

Donate here: https://loveitaly.org/en/campaign/treasures-of-the-confraternity/

The canvas was blessed on Friday, November 28th, at 6:00 PM.

Ven. le Confraternita  S. Maria degli Angeli, Gallipoli

L'articolo “Madonna of the Angels” repositioned above the altar proviene da Love Italy.

The National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia inaugurated renovated museum rooms with accessible immersive displays, thanks to PNRR funding, and the reactivation of the fountains in Bartolomeo Ammannati’s Renaissance masterpiece – the Nymphaeum, recently restored and reopened to the public.

The fountains of the Nymphaeum, the villa’s most iconic complex, designed by Bartolomeo Ammannati, once again flow with water: restoring the ancient function of “theater of waters.” to the Fountains of the River Tiber and River Arno The project, financially supported by the company Sphere Italia, is a virtuous example of public-private collaboration and patronage fostered by the Art Bonus.

The new projects are part of a broader renovation and redevelopment plan for the Museum, pursued by Director Luana Toniolo, which also involves Villa Poniatowski, the Museum’s second venue, where work is underway to eliminate architectural barriers to improve physical accessibility.

New immersive displays on the lower level of the Museum house a reproduction of the Maroi tomb from Cerveteri and a reconstruction of the famous Tomb of the Funeral Bed from Tarquinia. Designed as an immersive journey, the route begins with a physical descent into the underground space—a dimly lit, alienating environment charged with symbolism—and introduces the visitor to the Etruscan world of the dead.

The display route of the Castellani collection has also been completely redesigned, reflecting the famous family of Roman goldsmiths and antique dealers who revolutionized the goldsmith’s art during the 19th century, rediscovering ancient jewelry making techniques.

Both routes offer a new model of cultural accessibility, with content designed for a diverse audience and to engage the public with the help of technologies, integrated into the other museum spaces: video guides in Sign Language, immersive video projections, holographic displays, and an animated picture gallery, all within a renovated architectural setting. The clarity and plurality of languages, with a multi-sensory communication system, allow for a multi-level reading, without sacrificing the historical-scientific rigor of the content.

Press release (Italian) below

L'articolo water returns to the fountains at Museo Nazionale Etrusco proviene da Love Italy.

L'articolo Keita Miyazaki in Rome proviene da Love Italy.

The Rotary Club Rome Campidoglio celebrates its twentieth anniversary with the restoration of five mirrors that showcase the strength and prestige of women in Etruscan civilization.

Rotary Club Rome Campidoglio turns twenty. Twenty years of service, culture, and community engagement. To celebrate this milestone, the Club has chosen to return to the city a piece of its most ancient and fascinating history: five mirrors from the Etruscan era. The project was made possible by the collaboration of the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, custodian of the most fascinating of Etruscan treasures, and LoveItaly, a non-profit organization committed to protecting Italy’s cultural heritage.

The choice was not accidental. Mirrors, seemingly simply decorative objects, were instruments of identity and symbols of social prestige with profound symbolic meaning for Etruscan women. In Etruscan civilization, women occupied a central role in society, participating in public life, and enjoying a surprising degree of autonomy for the time. This was a social reality very different to that of Greek and Roman civilizations which often marginalized the female figure.

The Rotary Club Rome Campidoglio chose to restore five finely engraved bronze mirrors, dating between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC, from various places in southern Etruria. The mirror-backs feature decorative motifs of extraordinary finesse: mythological scenes, divine figures, and details that narrate the intertwining of beauty and power, femininity and sacredness.

These splendid objects were previously conserved in the storerooms of the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, out of public view. Thanks to this intervention, they have been brought to light again, restored, and accompanied by a new narrative that enhances their cultural and symbolic significance.

The restoration initiative is part of Rotary’s vision as an active force in promoting culture and beauty. “Our first twenty years have been important, but we want to look to the years to come, starting from our roots, which must be protected and magnified,” said Tiziana Galloni, President of the Rotary Club Roma Campidoglio.

“The restoration of the mirrors was a significant challenge for us, not only because of their delicate state of conservation, but also because of the complexity of their interpretation and the interpretation of the scenes depicted,” said Miriam Lamonaca, Head of Conservation at the Villa Giulia Museum. “Each individual intervention was tailored to the varying levels of deterioration, with the aim of ensuring the long-term conservation of the mirrors and improving interpretation, while respecting their historical and cultural integrity.”
“The restoration of the Etruscan mirrors, led by Tiziana Galloni and the Rotary Club Roma Campidoglio, is a virtuous example of a public-private partnership that returns precious treasures to the community,” said Stefano Pighini, Vice President of LoveItaly. “We are always delighted every time a new chapter is added to our mission of protecting Italy’s cultural heritage. Over ten years, LoveItaly has built a small but widespread network of partners—ministries, superintendencies, museums, fine arts institutes, and civic organizations—with whom we are privileged to collaborate. Bringing together patrons and artifacts in need of care is a profound satisfaction for us.”

The project was made possible thanks to a network of high-profile collaborations.

In addition to the Rotary Club of Rome Campidoglio, the following contributed enthusiastically and generously:

• Rotary Club of Bolsena and Ducato di Castro
• Rotary Club of Rome North West
• Rotary Club of Rome Quirinale
• BCC ROMA – Agenzia 15
• PWA Rome (Professional Women’s Association)
• Professor Michele Tantardini (RC Philadelphia)
• Dr. Chiara Berettoni

L'articolo Mirrors and women in the Etruscan world proviene da Love Italy.

the wonderful guests

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“We Love Italy” Valentine Event Partners

L'articolo “WE LOVE ITALY” – our Valentine’s Day events proviene da Love Italy.

Tuesday 15 October, 6 pm – marked the inauguration of Art Out of the Museum | Arte Fuori Dal Museo, a project promoted by General Directorate of Museums (Ministry of Culture) with LoveItaly and Federalberghi Lazio, which focuses on raising awareness and knowledge of Italy’s cultural heritage through the display of artifacts currently conserved in the warehouses of state museums. This, the first pilot project, features a marble statue of Goddess Rome, or Virtus, dating to the second century BC, which comes from the Museo Nazionale Romano.

Museo Nazionale Romano – Federalberghi Lazio – Bettoja Hotels – LoveItaly

are delighted to announce the inauguration of

“ART OUT OF THE MUSEUM | ARTE FUORI DAL MUSEO”

A project to promote and enhance awareness of archaeological works and artifacts from museum storage

The initiative is promoted by LoveItaly in collaboration with
Direzione Generale dei Musei del Ministero della Cultura
and Federalberghi Lazio

The initative focuses on raising awareness and knowledge of Italy’s cultural heritage through the display of archaeological artifacts currently conserved in the warehouses of museums and cultural spaces under the remit of the DG Musei in the hotels of Lazio.

This, the first pilot project, features a marble statue of Goddess Rome, or Virtus, dating to the second century BC, which will be displayed in the Hotel Mediterraneo. Prior to its restoration, the statue was conserved in the storage deposit of the Museo Nazionale Romano; after exhibition in the hotel, it will be displayed in the halls of the Museum.

Speakers:

• Stephane Verger, Director, Museo Nazionale Romano
• Walter Pecoraro, President, Federalberghi Lazio
• Giuseppe Roscioli, President, Federalberghi Roma
• Maurizio Bettoja, President, Bettoja Hotels
• Carlo Felicioni, Board Member, LoveItaly

Introduced by:

• Richard Hodges, President, LoveItaly

Moderated by:

• Tracy Roberts, Vice President, LoveItaly

Press Release and more information: https://shorturl.at/GipIs

L'articolo PRESENTATION – “Art Out of the Museum” proviene da Love Italy.