BERGAMO, 15 March 2026
Local artisans along Via Pignolo reported a 34 percent surge in orders for bespoke wooden staircases during the first quarter of 2026. Speaking outside his workshop on Monday, master carpenter Enzo Brambilla confirmed that wealthy homeowners from Milan and Lake Como now account for nearly half of all commissions.
When we spoke with Silvio Donati, a third-generation stair builder whose family firm has operated near Piazza Vecchia since 1951, he described an unexpected shift in client expectations. Buyers no longer settle for prefabricated flights. They want solid walnut treads, hand-turned balusters, and bespoke newel posts carved to match period interiors. Donati's workshop currently juggles fourteen active projects. According to figures that could not be independently verified, the Lombardy Woodcraft Association estimates that regional demand for artisan stairs grew by roughly €8 million last year alone. Rising interest in heritage restoration, partly fuelled by government tax credits, appears to be driving much of this activity. Around the corner, a small café frequented by carpenters serves espresso until midnight—evidence of the long hours craftsmen now keep.
Our correspondents in Bergamo observed at least three renovation sites in the Città Alta where contractors were installing custom oak stairways into eighteenth-century townhouses. One project on Via Colleoni involved a cantilevered open-riser design engineered without visible supports. The Italian National Institute for Construction Safety recently issued guidance on load-bearing standards for such installations, citing concerns over improper anchoring. Still, designers argue that modern glue-laminated beams and steel core stringers make these structures safer than traditional masonry alternatives. Raffaella Conte, an architect overseeing two Bergamo commissions, noted that clients often request anti-slip nosing profiles and LED tread lighting as standard. The timeline remains unclear, but city officials hope to publish a register of certified stair installers before the summer tourist season begins.
Industry watchers point to broader economic factors behind the boom. Property values in Bergamo's upper town rose by nine percent over the past twelve months, according to a quarterly survey published by the Northern Italy Real Estate Council. Wealthy buyers treat handcrafted staircases as both functional upgrades and status symbols. Several firms now ship finished components to luxury developments in Switzerland and southern Germany. Export logistics remain tricky, however, because oversized handrail sections require specialist freight handling. The Bergamo Chamber of Commerce plans to host a woodworking expo in October, inviting suppliers of sustainable timber and low-VOC finishes. Whether the current surge can last beyond 2026 depends largely on continued government incentives and stable lumber prices, observers say.