Accademia di Como and Paolo Giovio Archaeological Museum

Accademia di Como is renewing its partnership with the Paolo Giovio Archaeological Museum—two leading cultural institutions in the region—through a major conservation project on the famous late Roman floor mosaic housed in the museum’s galleries. This collaboration was made possible thanks to the support of Dr. Michela Bertolini, curator of the Paolo Giovio Archaeological Museum, and Dr. Veronica Vittani, director of the Civic Museums of Como. 
In May 2025, the mosaic was the subject of a field study activity for the five-year Cultural Heritage Restoration course at the Accademia di Como, with fourth-year students from the PFP 1 program participating in the conservation maintenance work, and second-year students involved in the graphic survey and mapping of the state of conservation, guided by Professor Nicola di Virgilio. The project is part of the Mosaic and Stone Cladding Restoration course, under the guidance of Professor Ylenia Rubino, offering students hands-on experience with a work of extraordinary historical and artistic value. 
The mosaic, dating from the 5th to 6th centuries AD, was discovered by chance in 1908 during construction work in the center of Como. Created with polychrome tesserae made of limestone and glass paste, it features rich decoration that combines traditional Alexandrian geometric motifs with a complex figurative scheme. 

Among arches, columns, animals, birds, deer, and baskets of grapes, the composition evokes profound symbolic meanings, leading scholars to hypothesize that the original space may have had a religious purpose, perhaps linked to a Christian building. 
The students’ project focused on the conservation and maintenance of the mosaic, with particular attention to the removal of foreign materials and the prevention of deterioration that could compromise its legibility and stability over time. The work was carried out according to the principles of gradualness, controllability, and selectivity, through preliminary tests on sample areas, with full respect for the original materials and under the supervision of the relevant authorities. This experience serves as a concrete example of how collaboration between cultural and educational institutions can combine preservation, research, and training, enhancing a unique masterpiece of Como’s archaeological heritage and preparing future generations of conservators to tackle the challenges of conservation with competence and awareness.