EU recovery funds fuel frenzied restorations around Rome, including at famed basilica

ROME (AP) — Some of the lesser-known treasures at San Pietro in Vincoli basilica in Rome, known for Michelangelo’s massive marble statue of Moses, are finally being restored.

Thanks to an infusion of European Union pandemic recovery funding, a frenzied series of restorations at religious, historic and cultural sites around the Eternal City are popping up.

On Monday, restorer Melanie Khanthajan climbed up a series of ladders with her toolbox to her perch on the scaffolding near the basilica ceiling, 20 meters (65 feet) off the floor. Using a scalpel, she painstakingly scraped off layers of plaster on serpentine decorations around a coat of arms on the vaulted ceiling, a technique called “descialbo.”

“Every removal of a layer surprises us because it allows us to understand what it is like, what emerges,” she explained. “So for us it’s wonderful, it’s a discovery every day.”

The ceilings, altar, tombs, marble columns and decorations of the basilica are being cleaned and restored with a 2-million-euro ($2.3 million) EU recovery grant that is keeping Khanthajan and 10 other restorers busy.

The city of Rome received 500 million euros ($579 million) in European funds for the “Caput Mundi” projects to be used on over 100 cultural renovations in the city. “Caput Mundi” was a term used by ancient Romans to mean “the head of the world.” According to an agreement with the EU, the funds must be used before the end of 2026.

The basilica is just a few steps from Rome’s Colosseum and gets its name, “vincoli,” from the Latin “vincula” for chains. A glass box at the center of the altar holds ancient chains, relics that, according to tradition, were used to hold St. Peter in Jerusalem. According to tradition, they then miraculously fused together with the chains used on Peter when he was held in the Mamertine prison in Rome.

The basilica was built in the 5th century under the Eastern Roman Empire and then in the 16th century Pope Julius II had the church partially rebuilt, adding his noble family Della Rovere’s coat of arms with an oak tree at the center on the ceilings, arches and chapels. The coat of arms and other decorations are the focus of the restoration.

The main attraction of the basilica is the sculpture of Moses, made by Michelangelo in 1513 to decorate the funeral monument of Julius. The Moses is not part of the restoration but will get a dusting off when the job is done.

“The works started about eight months ago and will end by May 2026,” said Ilaria Sgarbozza, the scientific director of the restoration project. “Let’s say it’s a very fast pace.”

A fresco depicting Jesus Christ is visible inside the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

The hand of a restorer peaks from a scaffolding inside the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Journalists visit the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome during its restoration works, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

From right, restorers Ilaria Balmas, and Victoria Mattia polish the tomb of Cardinal Mariano Vecchiarelli inside the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Restorer Domiziana Marchioro polishes the altar od St. Sebastian inside the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Arizona senior guard Jaden Bradley was named the Big 12 player of the year Monday in voting by the conference’s 16 coaches.

Tommy Lloyd, who with Bradley led the No. 2 Wildcats to the regular-season conference title, was picked as coach of the year by his peers.

Bradley is averaging 13.4 points and 4.6 assists for the Wildcats (29-2). Arizona senior forward Tobe Awaka, who is averaging 9.6 points and 9.5 rebounds, was named the league's top sixth man.

BYU guard AJ Dybantsa, the Big 12 and national scoring leader at 24.5 points a game, was named the freshman of the year. Kansas senior guard Melvin Council Jr. was named the newcomer of the year after joining the No. 14 Jayhawks from St. Bonaventure.

Honored as the top defensive player was the Jayhawks' 6-foot-10 sophomore Flory Bidunga, who has a league-leading 2.7 blocks per game while averaging 13.8 points and 9.0 rebounds.

This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Dybantsa.

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Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) drives past Iowa State guard Killyan Toure, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)