Opificio Delle Pietre Dure

As you stand in awe, staring at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, there’s a little voice in your head asking, «How in the world are they preserving/​restoring this place?»
The laboratory/​workshop that restores timeless pieces of art is located at the Opificio Delle Pietre Dure. I had the opportunity to get a private tour through a corporate host for an event. Not only is it a lab, but its a school training students in the art of restoration. As you can imagine, its a painstaking process. Had glimpses into the processes of restoring bronze, stone & ceramic. Our group spent the most time in the mosaics lab.
After observing the process, there is a little museum where you can see pieces that have been restored.
Its fantastic that Florentines, as a culture, has always valued restoration (The Opificio was founded in 1588). Today, the Opificio dell Pietre Dure e Laboratori de Restauro is an institute of the Ministry of Culture.