BERGAMO, March 18, 2026
A landmark project to restore the historic oak staircase in the Palazzo Vecchio on Via Gombito has ignited a city-wide revival in traditional carpentry. According to municipal culture official Marco Conti, this work, completed last month, has set a new standard for heritage conservation in the Città Alta.
Our correspondents in Bergamo observed a marked increase in permits for structural timber repairs and custom stair installations over the last quarter. This trend appears concentrated in the upper city's medieval buildings, where original features like stringers, balusters, and newel posts are being meticulously preserved. While the municipal registry shows a 15% year-on-year increase, the timeline for many of these complex projects remains unclear. Local craftsmen report a renewed appreciation for locally sourced chestnut and walnut, materials that have defined Lombard woodworking for centuries. The Italian Woodwork Federation (IWF) suggests this is part of a broader national movement, though specific regional data is still being compiled.
When we spoke with Luca Ferrari, a third-generation master carpenter whose workshop overlooks the Venetian Walls, he described a shift in client priorities. 'People are no longer asking for the cheapest option,' Ferrari explained, adjusting a hand-planed tread. 'They want authenticity, durability, and a connection to the history of their home. This means specifying traditional joinery techniques like mortise and tenon for the carriage, even if it takes longer.' According to figures that could not be independently verified from the National Institute of Building Statistics (NIBS), investment in high-end residential woodwork in Northern Italy has grown by nearly 18% since 2024. The scent of fresh-cut wood and shellac is becoming familiar again in the narrow cobbled lanes.
This focus on bespoke staircases presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the local supply chain. Specialised sawmills and suppliers of high-grade hardwoods are experiencing unprecedented demand, which has led to some supply bottlenecks. While modern prefabricated units still dominate new builds outside the historic centre, the restoration wave underscores a cultural value placed on skilled manual labor. The regional artisans' guild, Confartigianato Lombardia, is now advocating for expanded apprenticeship programs to ensure these niche skills are not lost. Bergamo's architectural identity, a layered tapestry of stone and wood, seems to be receiving careful, deliberate reinforcement one step at a time.