News
World's Oldest Continuously Operating Library Begins a New Chapter
Established in 859 CE, Morocco's al-Qarawiyyin Library will soon reopen to the public with architectural details for the 21st century.
restoration
News
A Luminous NYPL Reading Room Reopens After a Two-Year Restoration
The central space of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building had been closed for repairs after one of the plaster rosettes on its ceiling plummeted to the ground in May 2014.
Art
Restoring Alexander Pope’s Glinting Grotto to Its Former Glory
Nothing remains of Alexander Pope's 18th-century villa except its grotto, which has experienced three centuries of quiet decay alongside the River Thames in Twickenham, England.
News
A Victorian Theater Frozen in Time Crowdfunds Its Reopening
A 19th-century theater that's been disused for over 80 years is preparing to reopen in London.
In Brief
Anonymous Donors Help Restore a Renaissance Nymphaeum in Rome
The centerpiece of a Renaissance villa in Rome, once used as a papal country retreat, has been restored to its former glory, with financial backing from an unexpected source: a group of anonymous Japanese donors.
Art
Taxidermists Restore Napoléon's Beloved White Horse
Napoléon Bonaparte reportedly rode over 130 horses during his 14-year reign, but only one ended up as taxidermy: the Arabian stallion named le Vizir.
In Brief
Poll: What Does This Aggressively Restored 9th-Century Moorish Castle Look Like?
An architect's restoration of a 9th-century Moorish castle in southern Spain has drawn outcry from locals and historians, with many drawing comparisons between the registered national monument's new look and the infamous case of Beast Jesus.
News
British Museum Will Train Iraqis in Rescue Archaeology
There's nothing like watching ISIS blow up the ancient city of Nineveh to make archaeologists, conservationists, and historians feel helpless.
In Brief
Gargoyles of Charlie Hebdo Cartoonists Appear on 12th-Century French Tower
A pair of gargoyles commemorating slain Charlie Hebdo cartoonists Jean "Cabu" Cabut and Georges Wolinski were unveiled Monday on the renovated exterior of the Tour de la Lanterne, a tower in La Rochelle whose oldest sections date back to the late 12th century.
News
A Petition to Stop "Irresponsible" Restoration of Chartres Cathedral
A new petition against the cathedral's restoration claims work done over the past six years has irreversibly damaged the 800-year-old building and erased centuries of the history that makes it so special.
Art
A Midcentury Manhattan Mosaic Returns to Public View
A midcentury mosaic forgotten for years beneath metal paneling on a Midtown Manhattan office building is now restored and on permanent public view.
In Brief
Italy Earmarks €80M for 12 Cultural Projects, Including Rebuilding Colosseum Floor
On Tuesday Dario Franceschini, Italy's Minister of Heritage, Culture, and Tourism, announced that the superior council for cultural assets and landscape has committed €80 million (~$87 million) to 12 major cultural projects.