A significant step forward in the grand project of constructing the new barracks of the Pontifical Swiss Guard comes from UNESCO's approval. This is crucial as the Vatican is part of UNESCO's World Heritage. Therefore, any significant real estate project on Vatican City soil must undergo expert examination.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which deals with the conservation and protection of cultural heritage sites, and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), an intergovernmental organization dedicated to conserving cultural heritage worldwide, have issued their report. The current barracks are outdated and impractical. A plaque on the facade recalls that the last significant work was done by Pope Pius IX.

The architects Durisch + Nolli and the engineers Schnetzer Puskas, in collaboration with the Vatican Commission for Historic Monuments (Tutela), received a positive assessment. After all, the Swiss Guards can be considered one of the living institutions contributing to the Vatican's 'exceptional universal value' as a cultural heritage site.

Particular attention is given to the barracks facade facing Via Sant'Anna and its connection with the Passetto di Borgo. The current barracks are attached to the ancient medieval corridor, while the new structure will be detached to allow for accurate restoration of the Passetto.

Also, the fountain in the Courtyard of Honor, which has blocked an ancient pilgrimage route (Via del Pellegrino) since 1927, will be relocated. This move will restore the view of the Courtyard of Honor from Via Sant'Anna. Reopening the route will also restore the old pilgrimage path directly to St. Peter's Square through the Porta Sancti Petri, an entrance to the Vatican.

The project, which involves the recovery of historical buildings like the Passetto di Borgo and Porta Sancti Petri and the Via del Pellegrino, adds value to the proposed plan. Detailed planning will begin in 2024, leading to the Vatican's final approval of the project and the opening of a competition for the execution of the work, expected to start at the end of the Holy Year, i.e., in 2026.

Meanwhile, work on the Vatican Gendarmerie Barracks facing Via di Porta Angelica began a few months ago, about which very little is officially known.

This article was originally published on ACI Stampa.