Modern Restoration Works
After about a century since the last major restoration, in recent years the Tempietto Longobardo has undergone a complex and thorough intervention that has brought back its extraordinary beauty. Since 2016, restorers, archaeologists, art historians, chemists and geologists have worked side by side to reveal every detail of this 8th‑century masterpiece, overseen by the Superintendence of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The first step was the restoration of the imposing 14th‑century wooden choir, the oldest in Friuli, which in 2016 was returned to its original splendour. The stalls were dismantled and restored in an “open” workshop, where visitors could observe the work up close.
Once the oratory had been cleared, work on the foundations and the roof began in 2017, strengthening the entire structure.
The stucco decorations were a major focus, being among the most iconic parts of the Tempietto. The six female figures in the upper part of the hall were gently cleaned, revealing traces of their original colours. The arch decorated with a vine scroll motif was also restored, uncovering the remains of the small glass ampoules that once adorned the flowers like precious gems.
The frescoes were also fully restored in 2024. Dating between the 11th and 14th century, they were removed in the 1950s by the Norwegian scholar Hjalmar Torp to uncover the 8th‑century paintings beneath. These frescoes have now been restored and are currently displayed in a dedicated space within the complex, in the Church of San Giovanni in Valle.
Finally, the frescoes on the wall of the hall and on the vaults of the presbytery – dating between the 8th to the 14th century – were also carefully restored, bringing back to life colours, lines and details that had been hidden for centuries.
Thanks to these efforts, the Tempietto Longobardo is now the finest artistic expression left to us by the Lombards. Recognised by UNESCO, this is a unique heritage of extraordinary historical and artistic value, which continues to reflect the legacy of the Lombards and the generations of artists who have cared for it through the centuries.
