Amelia International Conservation Studies

This course introduces students to restoration of natural and stones derivatives/artificial stone surfaces in Italian historic monuments. Through lectures and hands-on workshops, it explores traditional materials and techniques used to create monuments and artwork integral to their structure. It also examines the various agents of deterioration that, over time, damage the materials and the different approaches to their restoration and conservation. Furthermore, the course offers opportunities to explore, along with the most common restoration techniques, an advanced technique, such as laser cleaning. MORE

Students gain hands-on experience the basic skills required for restoration of paper media and original archival materials. Students learn and apply basic conservation and restoration skills on original engravings and, having acquired sufficient skill, restore unique manuscript documents from the Amelia Historic Archive (13th-19th centuries). MORE

This course gives an in-depth understanding of traditional painting materials and techniques commonly used in Italy during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Since this course is aimed primarily at people planning to study art conservation, the course also explores factors that hasten deterioration of the materials and the different approaches to their restoration. MORE

This unique hands-on course offers a comprehensive exploration of archaeological ceramics. Guided by professional archaeologists and restorers, students learn to analyze, document, and restore invaluable artifacts from the 6th Century BC to the 19th Century AD.

The program is divided into two parts:

Understanding traditional ceramic technology, identifying, categorizing, and documenting ceramic fragments from local archaeological sites.

Learning the theoretical and practical aspects of restoring archaeological pottery, including cleaning, reassembling, gap-filling, aesthetic treatment, and documentation.

Students work with materials from renowned Italian institutions, gaining practical experience in typology analysis, analytical drawing, cataloging, and various restoration techniques.

This course is ideal for students of archaeology, anthropology, art history, art restoration, museum studies, cultural heritage management, classical studies, history of technology, and anyone passionate about understanding ancient cultures through their ceramic remains. MORE

This program offers two comprehensive courses on bookbinding and conservation. The first two-weeks course explores the history and techniques of early bookbinding structures, providing both theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice in creating historical bookbinding models.
The second two-weeks course focuses on the principles of book conservation and preservation, teaching students to identify deterioration agents, document book features, and apply repair techniques. Together, these courses equip students with a deep understanding of bookmaking traditions and conservation practices. MORE

The program is suitable for both early-career and established professionals who wish to deepen their understanding of architectural painted surface conservation and restoration. MORE

This course follows a structured chronological approach, equipping students with essential tools for the observation, analysis, and interpretation of historic buildings and their cultural contexts — key to their preservation.
Topics covered include building typologies, materials, structural systems, and construction techniques. The sketching workshop enhances analytical skills through measured drawing, focusing on the documentation of architectural heritage. MORE