GENOA, 15 March 2026
A growing wave of heritage restoration projects in Genoa's historic centre is driving renewed demand for handcrafted wooden staircases. On Via Garibaldi, master carpenter Enzo Parodi told reporters on Thursday that orders at his workshop have tripled since January, with clients seeking traditional balustrade designs for palazzi dating to the sixteenth century.
Our correspondents in Genoa observed a notable shift in how property owners approach interior renovation. Where laminate and steel once dominated budget discussions, solid hardwood now commands attention. The Ligurian Artisan Guild reports that membership among staircase specialists grew by fourteen percent last year. Oak, walnut, and chestnut remain favoured species. Small workshops clustered near Piazza Banchi have expanded hiring, bringing on apprentices to meet rising orders. According to figures that could not be independently verified, one family-run bottega completed thirty-seven bespoke staircase commissions in the final quarter of 2025 alone. Even modest apartments in Carignano are fitting curved newel posts and hand-turned spindles, elements once reserved for grand villas overlooking the Ligurian coast.
When we spoke with Giuliana Ferro, a structural engineer overseeing restoration at Palazzo Spinola, she emphasised the technical challenges involved. Older buildings often have irregular floor heights, requiring each tread and riser to be measured individually on site. Load-bearing stringers must accommodate centuries-old masonry that shifts subtly with temperature. The Associazione Italiana Scale in Legno, a national trade body, published guidance last autumn on integrating modern fire-retardant treatments without compromising the grain. Cost remains a concern. Premium-grade European oak now fetches roughly €2,400 per cubic metre, up from €1,850 two years ago, according to the Federazione Nazionale del Legno. Still, buyers view quality timber as an investment. A well-maintained staircase can last generations.
Local officials have taken notice of the trend. The Municipality of Genoa's heritage office recently streamlined permit procedures for interior woodwork in protected buildings, cutting approval times from twelve weeks to five. Near the old port, a converted warehouse on Calata Cattaneo now houses a training centre where young carpenters learn mortise-and-tenon joinery alongside CNC routing. The facility opened quietly last September with little fanfare. Aldo Brignole, director of the Istituto Ligure per il Restauro, called the programme a model for other regions grappling with skills shortages. Whether supply can keep pace with demand, however, remains an open question; several workshop owners admitted they are booked solid through late autumn.