Abstract

The Mediterranean basin typically shows the ubiquitous presence of historical towns constitutinga rich architectural heritage that has only recently become the object of conservation policy.Diagnostic knowledge can effectively contribute to the adoption of suitable conservation strategies. Thiswork focuses on the historical building materials employed in the Sicilian town of Syracuse (SouthernItaly), with the aim of identifying the causes and mechanisms of deterioration of the materials employed,as well as possible remedies. An extensive survey of the stones and their main decay morphologieswithin buildings was carried out. Laboratory analyses by optical microscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetryand ion chromatography were also performed. Several soft and porous calcarenites, having differentmineralogical-petrographical and porosity features, were recognized. The study identified a decayscenario typical of a Mediterranean context, with sea spray as the main cause of decay, together withwater and wind. Different decay levels observed in the stones were related to their fabric and porosimetricstructure, but specific use and position within buildings also proved important. The findings of thisstudy are of interest for similar urban and geographical contexts where soft and porous calcarenites areemployed, and provide information for conservation works.

Autore Pugliese

• Calia Angela

Tutti gli autori

• A. Calia; A. M. Mecchi; D. Colangiuli; L. Scudeler Baccelle

Titolo volume/Rivista

Quarterly journal of engineering geology and hydrogeology

Anno di pubblicazione

2013

ISSN

1470-9236

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

Non Disponibile

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile