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As part of the activities promoted within the project:
“Restoration, Science and Community in Palazzolo Acreide, UNESCO World Heritage Site”
Limited-Enrollment Masterclass on the Restoration of Large Wooden Furnishings
In collaboration with CISRiC University of Pavia and El.EN. Group
“The Great UNESCO Heritage Restoration Site”
The Restoration of the Four Historic Sacristies of Palazzolo Acreide
A unique experience in the heart of Baroque Sicily, designed for those who wish to make restoration a conscious, rigorous and practical profession.
Restoring a wooden artefact does not merely mean re-establishing the correct legibility of a deteriorated object, but also reconstructing a fragment of history, bringing to light the material memory of a community, and restoring identity to a place. When such interventions concern assets recognized as UNESCO World Heritage, the responsibility becomes even greater: every decision, every technical gesture, every phase of the work contributes to preserving a universal value shared by all humanity.
This Masterclass was conceived with this awareness and offers participants the extraordinary opportunity to work on wooden works of exceptional value, combining tradition, innovation and rigorous scientific methodology. It is a unique educational experience that brings together expertise, ethics and cultural sensitivity, aimed at training the restorers of the future.
Teodoro Auricchio
President I.E.R.
The Masterclass is predominantly practical (90%), is conceived as a training worksite and is held weekly from Monday to Saturday*
(Saturday attendance is on alternate weeks)
Course Objectives
- The course aims to train specialists capable of intervening on large wooden artefacts using scientifically sound criteria, providing practical skills for managing complex restoration sites, from planning and safety to coordination of the various phases of work.
- The training integrates traditional techniques with innovative methodologies, prioritizing sustainable solutions and including the use of advanced technologies and methods for cleaning varnished surfaces.
- Particular attention is given to understanding the history of the artefacts, the causes of deterioration, and the selection of the most appropriate materials, ensuring informed and reversible conservation interventions.
- The program also conveys the principles of professional ethics, promoting responsibility, respect and operational integrity towards the artefact and all stakeholders involved. Essential teamwork skills—fundamental in large restoration sites—complete the training framework.
This Masterclass does not replace university education but complements it. It is designed for restorers who already possess a solid theoretical background and wish to bridge the gap between academic study and advanced on-site professional practice. No basic notions are repeated: participants work in a real large-scale professional restoration site, addressing real problems, complex operational decisions and direct responsibility for artefacts belonging to UNESCO World Heritage.
Modular Study Plan
Students may freely choose the duration of their training path, divided into two modules, according to personal and professional needs. However, the course is designed to offer a progressive educational experience that achieves its full effectiveness when the entire cycle is attended.
The sacristy furnishings under restoration present different decorative and construction typologies, requiring diversified technical approaches and allowing participants to engage with a wide range of operational methodologies. Working on all phases and typologies guarantees a comprehensive overview of wooden restoration and fosters stronger skills and operational confidence that are difficult to achieve in shorter programs.
For this reason, attendance of the full program is strongly recommended, as it represents the most complete and truly formative opportunity.
Additionally, during the Masterclass period, the I.E.R. —together with CISRiC of the University of Pavia, El.En. Group and other sector institutions—will organize workshops on innovative diagnostic and restoration techniques, which students may attend free of charge.
Theoretical Content
The course provides participants with a clear and up-to-date methodological framework, supplying essential tools for professional and informed practice in wooden restoration.
The program begins with the fundamental principles of restoration and professional ethics, defining appropriate approaches in different operational contexts. This is followed by a historical-artistic analysis of the artefacts, with particular attention to Sicilian Baroque and the specific characteristics of wooden works in the monumental sacristies of Palazzolo Acreide.
Key aspects of wood technology are examined, including commonly used wood species in liturgical furnishings, the physical and mechanical behavior of wood, its reactions to environmental changes, and the main forms of deterioration. Construction techniques—such as joints, paneling, frames and decorative elements—are analyzed to understand their impact on restoration strategies.
Specific focus is given to traditional restoration materials: adhesives, fillers, natural resins, waxes and historical varnishes, with emphasis on finishes and polishing techniques of the 18th and 19th centuries. CISRiC of the University of Pavia will conduct a module on the most recent cleaning methodologies and analytical and treatment techniques for historical varnishes.
The theoretical path is completed by essential on-site knowledge: safety regulations, personal protective equipment, workspace management, activity organization and best operational practices.
Practical Content
The course is conceived as a predominantly hands-on experience, as the integration of theory with direct work on real artefacts enables participants to clearly and immediately understand professional conservation methodologies and challenges.
Throughout the program, participants will work in teams under the guidance of the Institute’s teaching staff, carrying out the complete conservation and restoration of the liturgical furnishings of the sacristies of the churches of Palazzolo Acreide, a UNESCO World Heritage property. Each phase of the conservation intervention will be addressed, from initial diagnostic assessment through to the final treatment stage.
Activities will follow the most up-to-date and scientifically sound methodologies adopted in the field, integrating traditional techniques with innovative procedures to ensure a rigorous, respectful and methodologically correct approach. Each participant will be actively involved in operational decision-making, learning to evaluate and apply technical, material and methodological alternatives.
Participants will learn to independently use professional equipment and machinery employed in large-scale wooden restoration sites, rarely accessible within university programs. They will work directly with handling systems, structural woodworking tools, advanced cleaning equipment and specialized devices for large artefacts, acquiring valuable operational familiarity for professional practice.
Laser Operator Course for Cultural Heritage Conservation
The Istituto Europeo del Restauro has collaborated with El.En. Group for nearly thirty years and was the first institution to establish structured training courses, starting in the late 1990s, on the use of laser technology applied to cultural heritage.
Current regulations governing the use of such systems require specific certification. Participants attending the Masterclass will receive, free of charge, a dedicated training course leading to certification for laser equipment use, in compliance with current legislation and with the provisions of Italian Legislative Decree 81/08.
Eligibility
The course is limited to 12 Italian and international participants, selected by a dedicated internal selection committee.
- University students in conservation and restoration
- Undergraduate and recent graduates in conservation and restoration
- Restoration assistants
- Early-career professionals
Program Duration
Enrollment is currently open only for Module A.
- Module A (11 weeks): February 8, 2026 – April 22, 2026
- Module B (10 weeks): April 20, 2026 – June 28, 2026
Participation in Module B is reserved for students who have completed Module A or who can demonstrate equivalent experience (use of machinery, laser cleaning systems for wood, etc.).
Training Partners
- CISRiC – University of Pavia
- El.EN. Group
What You Will Receive
- Certificate of participation stating inclusion in the restoration team
- Letter of reference
- License/certification for laser equipment use
- Certificate of participation in the specialized course held by CISRiC, the University of Pavia
- Academic credits
- Participation in the final ceremony
For Participants Completing the Full Five-Month Program
Participants who complete the full five-month training program will join a restricted group from which professional collaborators are selected for national and international projects promoted by the Institute.
They will officially become members of the restoration team and, as part of the technical staff, their names will be credited in the official professional documentation related to the conservation and restoration of a historic property. Their participation will be permanently recorded in the official project records, a recognition reserved exclusively for those who successfully complete the entire program.
Participants’ names will also be permanently associated with the official documentation of a UNESCO World Heritage property, representing a significant professional and curricular asset at an international level.
Finally, the Masterclass offers access to an active professional network composed of restorers, university faculty, institutions and technical partners with whom the Institute regularly collaborates on national and international projects.
Course Fees
The course is offered free of charge, thanks to partnerships established by the Istituto Europeo del Restauro, and is open to only 12 selected meritorious students.
The only required fee at the time of enrollment is €300, intended exclusively for the provision of mandatory personal safety equipment, which will be supplied by the I.E.R. and will remain the property of the student at the end of the course.
All educational activities, materials, equipment, on-site participation, personal protective equipment, personal accident insurance, and shared accommodation with other participants for the entire duration of the program are provided at no additional cost.
The €300 Enrollment Fee Includes
- Shared accommodation for the entire stay
- INAIL personal accident insurance
- Laser system training course
- Participation in the laser equipment training course
- Two polo shirts with IER logo
- One pair of work trousers
- One blue sweater with IER logo
- One blue wool coat with IER logo
- Participation in institutional events
What You Must Bring
- Personal linens (sheets, blanket, towels, etc.)
- Safety footwear
How to Apply
- Send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. requesting enrollment in the Wooden Restoration Masterclass in Sicily
- Attach your CV
A dedicated Selection Committee will evaluate applications and communicate admission by email or phone. Only selected candidates may proceed with payment of the €300 enrollment fee.
We look forward to welcoming you.