THE RESTORER IN ITALY
The system of training and education of restorers in Italy is currently ruled by the Ministerial Decree no. 86 of 26 May 2009 defining the profile of the restorer and of the other operators engaged in activities that complement the restoration and conservation of cultural heritage, pursuant to article no. 29 comma 7 of the Italian Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape, Legislative Decree no. 42 of 22 January 2004.
The Ministerial Decree 86/2009 defines the following profiles:
Art. 1 - Restorer (five-year degree in one cycle)
Art. 2 – Technician in Restoration of Cultural Heritage and Collaborator Restorer (triennial diploma)
Art. 3 – Technicians with specific skills (annual and biennial diploma or adequate professional experience)
Art. 4 – Scientific experts (degree in chemistry, physics, biology, geology).
These technicians work in a team with a project designer (a graduate restorer) and a project manager (an architect or a conservator) under the supervision of the competent Superintendence.

PALAZZO SPINELLI IN THE HISTORY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF RESTORERS IN ITALY
In 1976 our Institute was the first in Italy to counter the monopoly of Law no. 1089 of 1 June 1939, then repealed in 1999, in accordance with the fundamental values of the Italian Constitution, including Article 33, paragraph 1, which states: "The art and science are free and free is their teaching."
Two years after the national law no. 845 of 21 December 1978 has regulated the vocational training, delegating it to the Regions. According to this law, Palazzo Spinelli obtained in 1980, the recognition of its courses of restoration (Resolution of the Province of Florence no. 1881 of 12.06.1980). Until now, this approval was uninterrupted by the Province of Florence in accordance with the Article 17 paragraph 1 letter b of the LR 32/2002. Last Resolution: no 4137 of 05.11.2012. The Institute is accredited by the Region of Tuscany with the Decree no. 1722 of 25 March 2003, accreditation code no. 545, and the subsequent decree no. 373, February 6, 2009, Code of accreditation FI0269.

THE DECREE 294/2000 ON RESTORATION WORKS
The Ministerial Decree no. 294 of August 3, 2000 identifies the qualification requirements for the category of specialized artworks OS2 (ordinary and extraordinary maintenance and restoration of Cultural Heritage artefacts). This Decree stipulates that a company that employs more than 4 employees must operate with at least the 20% of restorers (degree), and the 40% of employees restorers (annual or triennial diploma or adequate professional experience).

THE INSTITUTE AND THE COURSES FOR COLLABORATOR RESTORER
Palazzo Spinelli has always organised training courses for Assistant Conservator recognised by the Regione Toscana, graduating 3,300 students from all over the world. The courses are currently organised under the Regional Law 32/2002 and in accordance with the standards approved by the Conference of Italian Regions of 27 October 2011 which have definitively established the triennial courses of 2,700 hours, of which the 60% is intended for practical works made for the 60% on artefacts classified as cultural heritage under the Italian Code. In the academic year 2013-14, the Institute will activate four academic addresses: Restoration of frescoes - Restoration of Paintings on canvas and wood panel - Restoration of Paper Artefacts - Restoration of Ceramic and Stone. Graduates who have attended the three-year courses, passing the Expert Technician exams will be included automatically in the National List of Technicians of Restoration of Cultural Heritage (Collaborator Restorer) managed by the Ministry. Who attends only a year or obtain only the two-year diploma of Qualified Technician will not be included in any list, but can still act as Assistant Restorer.

THE INSTITUTE AND THE COURSES FOR RESTORER
Palazzo Spinelli, intends also to organize the university courses for Restorers (degree only at the end of the five years at unique cycle) and in this sense it has submitted a formal application to the Inter-Ministerial Commission, which after viewing the new premises and the new seat, expressed a first positive feedback. To avoid any conflict of interests, the management of the University must be conducted by a new entity specifically established. Palazzo Spinelli plays for this reason the role of promoter of a new company in which it will participate sharing with all the other partners its own know-how and experience. The participation in this society is open to all: public and private institutions, government agencies, sector companies and private citizens. It is expected to launch the first degree courses in the academic year 2014-15 in the following three disciplines: 1. Restoration of Frescoes and Stone - 2. Restoration of Paintings and Wooden Artefacts - 3. Restoration of Ceramics. Graduates who have attended the five-year courses will be automatically included in the National List of Restorers of Cultural Heritage managed by the Ministry.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE COURSES
The triennial professional qualification, as issued by a Regional institution, officially delegated by the Italian State according to the National Law no. 845 of 21st December 1978, is valid on the whole National territory.
The triennial title is also valid on the European countries thanks to the validation general system SG adopted with the European acts (89/48/CEE and 92/51/CEE), changed by the act 2001/19/CE, acted by the Italian State by means of the Legislative Decree no. 277 of the 8 July 2003, art no. 1 letter b. The acknowledgement of the degree is made as any other Italian or foreign title or Degree.

The essential legislation on restoration (in italian)