We present a novel error concealment algorithm for block-based video transmission over error-prone networks. We develop a spatial error concealment technique, which combines edge-preserving interpolation and texture analysis and synthesis, providing a reconstruction of lost macroblocks optimized for visual perception. In particular, the algorithm recovers image edges by coarse-to-fine MAP estimation with a Markov random field prior, and replenishes lost textured areas with a texture synthesized from neighboring macroblocks. Experimental results show that texture synthesis allows achieving improved visual quality of the reconstructed area with respect to other state-of-The-art spatial concealment techniques. © 2002 IEEE.