Ten years of discovery and restoration of the frescoes at the Prince's Palace in Monaco.

From 19 to 21 March 2026

In 2013, when the first team tasked with the maintenance and refurbishment of the decorations arrived at the Palace, no one could have foreseen the scientific, historical, and human adventure that would follow. What began as a decorative painting mission evolved into an exciting series of discoveries of late Renaissance frescoes, revealing a monumental allegory of the Grimaldi family's history from the 16th century onwards on the Palace's ceilings. The work, undertaken by H.S.H. Prince Albert II and underpinned by a commitment to sustainability, places the Sovereign in the lineage of His Ancestors, great patrons of the arts who were keen to preserve, restore, and enhance their palace.

Although common historiography traces the building's origins back to the early 13th century, the siege of 1506-1507 by the Genoese heavily impacted the fate of the original fortress. Works undertaken by Augustin Grimaldi and, subsequently, by Étienne Grimaldi – tutor to Honoré I – transformed the «old castle» into a true Renaissance palace. The second quarter of the 16th century proved decisive in the history of the Grimaldi lords of Monaco's residence, which in a few decades acquired an appearance close to that which we know today after ten years of restoration.

A true research and experimentation laboratory, the fresco conservation and restoration project has brought to light an authentic masterpiece, elevating the Prince's Palace of Monaco to the rank of a major monument of European heritage. All the research work that guides and accompanies this rediscovery will be presented during the multidisciplinary colloquium to be held in Monaco on 19, 20 and 21 March 2026.