In 1997-98 Collingwood and Partners Prague were commissioned by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to carry out the conservation and restoration of 16th cent apartments in Palac Hradec-Slavata as accommodation for ambassador and other embassy staff.

The Italian Embassy occupies two landmark buildings in Prague’s historic Mala Strana (Little Quarter) : Facing Nerudova Styreet is the Thun Hohenstejn Palace, a 17th cent baroque masterpiece famous for the gigantic carved eagles of the entrance portico.

To the rear, facing the castle steps, is the Hradec-Slavata palace, a renaissance building with interiors of various periods.

Following careful research and analysis, a programme of conservation and restoration was proposed for 1350 sq m of the building: Inappropriate additions were removed, services were renewed and wall paintings cleaned.