Emperor Nero’s golden palace, the walls of medieval Siena and the foundations of Venice will all receive funds for restoration now that the Italian government has approved a plan to spend 300 million euro to protect the nation’s cultural heritage.
The announcement was made shortly after Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s government passed a 2016 budget that increases spending on culture, including a program for 18-year-olds to participate in activities like cinema trips.
Among the funds earmarked for restoration of monuments, 13 million euro will fund work on the golden palace in Rome that Emperor Nero had built as a monument to himself. The project to restore the walls protecting Siena will cost 2.2 million euro over the next three years, the culture ministry said. More than 6 million euro will support various projects in Venice.
Along with restoration, cultural sites will also be equipped with security alarms and video surveillance systems.
