The historic Italia tenement on Nowy Świat 25 in Warsaw has completed restoration of its front façade, funded largely by city grants.
Historical Roots
Built in 1822 by architect Karol Henryk Gallego for Warsaw entrepreneur Jan Adolf Jasiński, the tenement housed a bookstore, a café, and a commercial passage through the 19th and 20th centuries.
Wartime Damage
The building suffered severe destruction in 1944; post‑war reconstruction restored its 19th‑century form atop the original foundations, adding additional stories to match the street line.
Prior Deterioration
By the early 2020s, damp plaster, leaky metalwork, and a crumbling balcony made the façade unsafe, prompting conservation work to begin in 2024.
Restoration Measures
Work started on the rear façade, applying new plaster in 1953 tones, then in 2025 the front façade was cleaned, rust removed, and original stucco details revived.
Funding Overview
Nearly 233 000 zł (over 49 % of costs) was granted by Warsaw’s city administration for the front façade; the grant excluded window replacement but covered cleaning and restoration.
Cultural Legacy
From the mid‑1920s, the building’s rear housed the Italia café with multiple themed rooms; a dance hall and cinema operated during World War II, and the café remains a notable feature of Warsaw’s social history.
