In 2001, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) launched a cooperative project with the Archaeological Superintendency of Rome and Norwegian Institute in Rome to restore and conserve Santa Maria Antiqua’s frescoes (Schmid, 2005). Fifteen years later, the ancient reopened to visiting members of the public in the spring of 2016.

Below is a video of the “before” and “after of the WMF’s restoration efforts:

Works cited

Schmid, Werner. “Finding Sanctuary: An Early Christian Wonder in the Heart of the Roman Forum.” ICON Winter 2005, pp. 22-27.

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