Renovated Sinčić Palace in Poreč Opens Its Doors

After the completion of facade works, the most representative Baroque palace in Poreč has taken on a new look, providing an opportunity for gathering and exploring the results of the ongoing restoration of the Sinčić Palace complex, the home of the Poreč Heritage Museum (Zavičajni muzej Poreštine).

The restoration process of this protected cultural heritage site was presented on Friday by the Mayor of Poreč, Loris Peršurić, and the Director of the Poreč Heritage Museum, Dr. Elena Uljančić.

In his address, Mayor Peršurić highlighted, “The renovated facade of the Sinčić Palace is not just a restored building; it is another important piece in the restoration of our entire old town core and the overall image of Poreč. I am pleased to say that we continue to assemble this mosaic. Poreč is currently undergoing the largest investment in the old town core in over 20 years. In addition to the Sinčić Palace itself, there is the restoration of Marafor, for which we have obtained a location permit, and we are proceeding with its renovation. The restoration of the Romanesque House, one of the symbols of Poreč, is being prepared and will begin after the season. Following the restoration of the bell tower of the Euphrasian Basilica, in cooperation with the Croatian Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Culture and Media, the restoration of the baptistery as part of the Euphrasian complex continues. At the same time, in cooperation with the parish of Poreč, we are preparing the restoration of the Church of Our Lady of the Angels, and there are also the House of Two Saints and the Memorial House of Joakim Rakovac in Rakovci. Through the construction restoration itself, the city gains additional value and demonstrates care for its own heritage, and I thank everyone involved in this and other projects, especially because so much work and effort behind the scenes are often unseen but extremely important.”

Director Elena Uljančić recalled that the museum exhibition was removed from the dilapidated and unsafe building in 2008, and since then, continuous activities related to the restoration of the Poreč Heritage Museum have been carried out. Extensive conservation and restoration research preceded the restoration, including investigations of interior and exterior plaster, woodwork, stone, metal, stucco, and frescoes. This resulted in the development of numerous reports and project documentation, involving a multidisciplinary team of experts.

She emphasized that in recent years, thanks to the funds from the City of Poreč and the Ministry of Culture and Media, as well as international assistance from the Veneto Region in Italy, several significant restoration works have been carried out. The first major construction and artisanal works were performed in 2014, including the consolidation of foundations and the resolution of capillary moisture issues on the ground floor. An archaeological excavation was conducted at that time, enriching knowledge about the historical layers of the city and revealing a mosaic from the 1st-2nd centuries, which was conserved in 2018. The roof repair, which was particularly challenging, was completed in 2016. From 2019 to 2022, the restoration of intermediate floor structures of the main salons on the first and second floors, the attic, and the side rooms in the attic was carried out, addressing the issue of structural vulnerability and meeting modern standards for loads in public museum spaces.

“The latest significant investment in the palace, worth nearly 730,000 euros, included the restoration of plasterwork and stone sculptures on all facades of the Sinčić Palace complex. This intervention covered a total of 1,700 m2 of the facade, making it the largest intervention of this kind in the city in the last thirty years after the restoration of the Euphrasian Basilica,” emphasized Uljančić. The Director expressed special thanks to the contractors, Kapitel from Žminj and the Sinčić Construction Craft from Škropeti, for their highly professional and dedicated work, meticulous and knowledgeable approach to the cultural heritage. She also announced that the replacement of the external carpentry will begin this year, and the financial structure for installation works, planned to start next year, is being finalized, bringing the Poreč museum one step closer to a new permanent exhibition. She expressed confidence that they will soon be able to proudly announce the completion of this most important project for the museum.

The evening continued with a guided tour by curator Gaetano Benčić, who showcased the renovated facades, salons, and informative panels with museum exhibits. The showcased display cabinet with archaeological artifacts found during the palace’s research, including everyday objects ranging from women’s combs to miniature dice used by children, attracted special attention from the attendees.

The ceremony concluded with a musical performance by the “Parentine” vocal group.