Italy Provides Funding for Restoration of Odessa's Cultural Heritage
Italy has decided to provide Ukraine with €32.5 million in non-repayable aid aimed at restoring the cultural heritage of the Odessa region. The respective agreement was signed on July 10 in Rome during the International Conference on the Recovery of Ukraine (URC2025).
This information was confirmed by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications.
According to the agreement, the funding will be directed towards the restoration of six architectural landmarks in Odessa that have suffered due to Russian aggression. These include:
Odessa National Art Museum;
- Odessa Museum of Western and Eastern Art;
- Odessa Regional Philharmonic named after David Oistrakh;
- Odessa Literary Museum;
- Zontag House;
- Marriage Palace.
The agreement will provide for comprehensive restoration, improved security and energy efficiency of the buildings, modernization of engineering systems, and accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
In addition to the restoration of these landmarks, it is planned to establish the Odessa UNESCO Heritage Management Center, which will coordinate the preservation of objects listed as World Heritage.
The grant will be implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in coordination with the Italian Foreign Ministry (MAECI) and in cooperation with Ukrainian ministries, the Odessa Regional Military Administration, and the city council.
Moreover, the OVA added that Italy will allocate €6 million for the reconstruction of two irrigation systems in the Odessa region. The implementation of the project will modernize irrigation systems, reduce water losses, and increase the yield of grain and vegetable crops by up to 50%.
