From Bulgari to Etruscan Jewelry: Foundation Safeguards History in Rome

The Bulgari Foundation has signed a partnership with the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome, a collaboration agreement that will run for three years. The project kicks off with the exhibition An Endless History. Goldsmith art from Castellani to Bulgari, which will remain open to the public until August 30. The exhibition proposes a dialogue between the Etruscan jewelry reinterpreted by the Castellani family in the 19th century and the high jewelry creations of the Italian firm.

The exhibition marks the first step of a more ambitious collaboration, which includes the renovation of the lighting in three of the museum’s most emblematic rooms: the Castellani Golden Room, the Hall of the Seven Hills and the Hall of Venus. These interventions seek to enhance the frescoes and heritage pieces through a more contemporary set-up that respects the architectural environment.

Beyond the exhibition and technical improvements, the agreement includes a third aspect of cultural volunteering. Bulgari employees will participate in the care of the museum’s gardens, digitization of archives and support for institutional communication. This direct involvement reinforces the social and educational dimension of the project.

The Bulgari Foundation collaborates with the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome with an exhibition dedicated to goldsmithing

During the official presentation Luana Toniolo, director of the museum, and Matteo Morbidi, director of the Bulgari Foundation, underlined the pioneering nature of the partnership between a public conservation institution and a luxury brand. “The financial commitment is limited, but the project is very ambitious,“ explained Morbidi according to Milano Finanza newspaper.

The Villa Giulia museum, located in the heart of the Italian capital, houses one of the most important collections of Etruscan art in the world. The Castellani collection, which is part of the museum’s holdings, has been a source of inspiration for Bulgari over the years.Not only for its neoclassical aesthetics inspired by Etruscan antiquities, but also for the artisanal techniques shared by both lineages of goldsmiths.

The Bulgari Foundation reinforces its role as an active agent in the preservation of Italian heritage, both inside and outside the fashion and jewelry sphere. This new partnership in Rome adds to the other cultural projects promoted by the firm, such as the restoration of the Mausoleum of Augustus as part of the regeneration project of Piazza Augusto Imperatore.