Publications
Monitorare per conservare: il caso della Torre Ghirlandina di Modena
A counterintuitive decrease in the tilt of Modena’s leaning Ghirlandina Tower following the 2012 Emilia earthquakes challenges conventional seismic response models and underscores the value of long-term structural monitoring for UNESCO-listed heritage sites. The study, which analyzed real-time data from recent seismic events, demonstrates how observational methods—borrowed from geotechnical engineering—can guide conservation strategies without invasive interventions. This approach aligns with the principle of minimal intervention while addressing the complexities of buildings with layered historical stratifications. The findings highlight the need for adaptive monitoring frameworks to safeguard cultural heritage against seismic risks.
Structural Fire Risk for Heritage Buildings by the Performance-Based Engineering Format
A novel probabilistic framework for assessing fire risk in heritage buildings, exemplified by the Duomo of Modena Cathedral, reveals that structural damage to wooden roofs can be quantified with precision using performance-based engineering methods. The study employs event-tree analysis, numerical thermo-fluid dynamics models, and advanced nonlinear finite element simulations to evaluate fire dynamics and structural behavior. Results, expressed as risk curves for fixed return periods, demonstrate how different damage levels may occur probabilistically, offering a compatible approach with established hazard assessment frameworks like those for earthquakes. This method addresses unique challenges in applying fire risk analysis to heritage structures, providing a robust tool for conservation planning.
A Chronology of Ancient Earthquake Damage in the Modena Cathedral (Italy): Integrated Dating of Mortars (14C, Pollen Record) and Bricks (TL)
Researchers have uncovered a detailed chronology of earthquake damage in the Modena Cathedral by analyzing the dating of mortars and bricks. The study reveals that the cathedral's 15th-century cross-vaults were constructed using lime mortar binding reused Roman and medieval bricks, with subsequent repairs linked to earthquakes in the 16th and 17th centuries. Gypsum mortars were used for extensive rebuilding and repairs in the 18th and 19th centuries. The integrated approach, combining radiocarbon dating (14C), thermoluminescence (TL) dating of bricks, and pollen records from mortars, provides a precise timeline of construction and restoration. This methodology not only sheds light on the cathedral's history but also offers critical insights for earthquake risk assessment and preservation strategies for ancient structures.
The “Hermaphrodite” of Modena
A previously overlooked eleventh-century sculpture from Modena Cathedral, known as the 'Hermaphrodite' or Potta di Modena, challenges long-held assumptions about premodern perceptions of intersex individuals. Contrary to sixteenth-century accounts that labeled it obscene, the original work likely celebrated anatomical ambiguity as a marvel of God's creation. This study reveals a nuanced historical perspective on sexuality and identity, contradicting Michel Foucault’s assertions about premodern views on intersexuation. By analyzing the sculpture’s restoration history and contemporary scholarly debates, researchers highlight the need for further investigation into the visibility of intersex people and their agency outside traditional frameworks.
Integrated Dating of the Construction and Restoration of the Modena Cathedral Vaults (Northern Italy): Preliminary Results
Preliminary research on the Modena Cathedral vaults reveals significantly more earthquake damage than previously documented, with evidence of repairs dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The study used radiocarbon (14C), optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and thermoluminescence (TL) dating techniques to analyze building materials, uncovering that medieval bricks were reused in the cathedral's original 15th-century construction. Notably, lime mortar was employed for early repairs following seismic events, while gypsum mortar was introduced in the 18th century. This integrated approach not only clarifies the cathedral's construction timeline but also provides new insights into its restoration history and the impact of earthquakes on this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The geography of death
The study reveals that the Attonid dynasty, including figures like Bonifacio, Beatrice, and Matilda, strategically dispersed their tombs across Italy to assert power, intertwining burial sites with the cults of saints housed in churches they reconstructed. Unlike typical noble practices, this 'geography of death' involved reusing Roman sarcophagi for burials, a trend observed during the 11th century around cathedrals like those in Modena and Pisa. Matilda's remains, initially buried in San Benedetto Po, were later moved to Rome, where she was beatified. The research highlights how burial practices and saint veneration overlapped, reflecting complex social and political dynamics.
Enhancing heritage fruition through 3D virtual models and augmented reality: an application to Roman artefacts
A novel approach using 3D virtual models and augmented reality (AR) significantly enhances the visualization, analysis, and accessibility of Roman artefacts, addressing spatial constraints, preservation challenges, and logistical barriers. This method allows for detailed examination of large or fragmented artefacts, such as a partially preserved Roman floor mosaic and funerary lion sculptures from Modena, Italy, by overcoming limitations in museum space and artefact condition. The AR application, accessible via standard mobile devices using free and open-source software, was positively received by both experts and visitors during testing inside and outside museums. This study demonstrates the potential of digital tools to democratize cultural heritage fruition, enabling engaging, customized experiences that transcend traditional museum settings.
Quality Features for the Integration of Terrestrial and UAV Images
A novel photogrammetric pipeline enhances the accuracy of 3D reconstructions by integrating terrestrial and UAV images, addressing challenges posed by differing sensor properties. The approach filters and removes low-quality tie points using quality feature indicators, improving orientation results before dense point cloud computation. Testing on a dataset of approximately 140 images from Modena Cathedral, Italy, demonstrated the method's effectiveness through internal quality checks, ground truth comparisons, and visual analyses. This study advances the integration of multi-platform imagery, offering a robust solution for high-precision cultural heritage documentation.
The Restoration of Ghirlandina Tower in Modena and the Assessment of Soil–Structure Interaction by Means of Dynamic Identification Techniques
Research on the Ghirlandina Tower in Modena reveals that soil-structure interaction significantly influenced its construction and settlement patterns, explaining why masons implemented corrective measures during building. Using dynamic identification techniques, the study provides insights into the mutual interaction between the tower and the adjacent Cathedral, both of which were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997 for their exceptional cultural significance. This volume also explores the historical context of the Modena complex, highlighting its role in reflecting 12th-century northern Italian urban society, religious beliefs, and architectural innovation.
Matilda and the cities of the Gregorian Reform
Historical research reveals that Matilda of Canossa's influence extended beyond territorial control, significantly impacting urban centers during the Gregorian Reform. While her power over territories like those between the river Po and the Apennines is well-documented, this study highlights her role in urban spaces, particularly through architectural patronage. The analysis focuses on codices and designs by Wiligelmo and his team, demonstrating a strategic approach to counter religious dissent, including the heresy of antipopes, within opulent cities like Cremona and Modena. The absence of orthodox bishops in these cities allowed Matilda to intervene in significant projects, such as the rebuilding of cathedrals, underscoring her multifaceted influence during this period.
Romanesque Cathedrals in Northern Italy – building processes between bishop and commune
A shift in cathedral construction dynamics emerged in 11th and 12th century Northern Italy, where the role of bishops diminished due to Church reforms while communes became more prominent. This period saw cathedrals, including those in Modena and Piacenza, being rebuilt during interregnums, indicating a transition where communes—embracing clergy and laity as equal patrons—took on the responsibility for these monumental projects. The process not only redefined relationships between ecclesiastical and secular institutions but also facilitated the establishment of new communal structures and guilds. This study reevaluates the construction of these cathedrals to highlight their role in societal transformation, offering insights into the interplay between power, patronage, and urban development during this pivotal era.
Sculptural Seeing: Relief, Optics, and the Rise of Perspective in Medieval Italy
Medieval sculptors in Italy were employing advanced knowledge of optics, geometry, and visual theory centuries before the Renaissance, challenging the conventional narrative that perspective was a solely Renaissance innovation. Christopher R. Lakey's study demonstrates that these sculptors used relief sculptures to manipulate viewers' perspectives, enhancing religious and political messaging through carefully orchestrated points of view and architectural space. The research combines meticulous visual analysis with close textual readings of medieval works, including notable examples from the cathedrals of Modena and Ferrara, as well as the Pisano pulpits in Pisa and Pistoia. This reveals that linear perspective concepts, later codified by Renaissance painters, were already in practice among sculptors during the 12th to 14th centuries.
Geodetic monitoring and geotechnical analyses of subsidence induced settlements of historic structures
A comprehensive analysis of the Cathedral, Torre Civica, and Piazza Grande in Modena—part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site—reveals significant subsidence-induced settlements, driven by complex historical construction, subsoil conditions, and both natural and human-induced factors. The study integrates geodetic monitoring data from 1984 with advanced 3D finite element modeling to assess long-term structural behavior, particularly differential settlements that pose risks to the monuments' stability. By incorporating soil characteristics derived from laboratory and in situ tests, the model accurately predicts settlement profiles, aligning with high-precision leveling observations. This approach provides a proactive tool for conservation authorities to manage heritage safety by anticipating risk scenarios.
Monitoring and Real Field Data for Understanding the Structural Behaviour and Health of Historical Buildings
A standardized approach for analyzing data from static Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems has been developed, enabling systematic interpretation of real-time monitoring data for historical buildings. This method introduces specific descriptors to evaluate stationary or evolutionary structural conditions, contributing to the management and preservation of cultural heritage sites. Applied to the Cathedral of Modena, this multi-disciplinary, multi-analysis approach integrates field data with numerical models, enhancing the reliability of structural assessments. The study highlights the complexity of describing all possible structural responses in historical masonry monuments but demonstrates that a combination of methods yields more accurate results.
The structural behaviour of the masonry vaults of the Cathedral of Modena
The masonry vaults of Modena Cathedral demonstrated significant vulnerability to seismic activity during the 2012 Emilia Earthquake. This study reveals that such historical structures, while integral to cultural heritage, are highly susceptible to earthquake damage, posing challenges for structural interventions that must balance preservation with safety. Researchers employed Finite Elements and Discrete Elements models to analyze the dynamic response of these vaults, providing critical insights into their seismic behavior. The findings underscore the need for non-invasive strengthening techniques that respect architectural integrity while enhancing resilience against natural disasters.
L’art roman en Lombardie. État des questions
Romanesque art in Lombardy exhibits significant diversity in typology and technique, marked by the use of stone in alpine regions and brick in plains, with reused brick prevalent until the late 11th century. This architectural evolution is tied to episcopal reforms within the Ottonian and Salian Reichskirchensystem, with key figures like Aribert d’Intimiano leading the transformation. Innovations in structures such as Santa Maria Maggiore at Lomello and Milan’s San Sepulchro, including stone vaulting and bay articulation, highlight this period's experimentation. However, the loss of many monuments in the 12th century obscures a comprehensive view of this transition. By the late 11th century, Romanesque architecture reached maturity with buildings like Sant’Ambrogio in Milan and San Michele Maggiore in Pavia, featuring tribunes, ribbed vaults, and significant sculptural advancements. Concurrently, Cremona Cathedral’s reconstruction reflects a blend of Lombard and Po Valley influences, complicating its classification.
The Renovation of Northern Italian Cathedrals during the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries: The State of Current Research and Some Unanswered Questions
Research on northern Italian Romanesque cathedrals, particularly Modena Cathedral, reveals significant advancements in understanding their architectural evolution and the influence of Classical inspiration. The study highlights the wealth of documentary evidence for Modena, including the names of key architects and artisans, providing a detailed context for its renovation during the 11th and 12th centuries. By comparing Modena with other cathedrals in Emilia Romagna—such as Ferrara, Parma, and Reggio Emilia—the research identifies new findings that shed light on regional architectural trends. Additionally, it explores the mutual relationships between Cremona and Piacenza cathedrals while noting the preservation of pre-Romanesque structures in Vercelli, Pavia, and Bergamo. The article advocates for a multidisciplinary approach to fully analyze these complex monuments.
A Structural Analysis of the Modena Cathedral
A multi-disciplinary analysis reveals key vulnerabilities in the structural integrity of Modena Cathedral, Italy. The study combines simple yet reliable limit schematizations with complex computer-based models to assess the monument's static conditions and potential safety evolution. By integrating insights from various fields, researchers identified critical weaknesses in the masonry fabric and other significant structural elements, offering a comprehensive understanding that could guide preservation efforts for future generations.
SSHM and DSHM for a better knowledge and risk prevention of historical buildings: The cases of the Two Towers in Bologna and the Cathedral in Modena
A standardized approach for interpreting structural monitoring data of historical buildings has been developed, enabling better risk assessment and preservation. This method defines specific reference quantities from recorded time series to characterize structural responses, which can be compared across similar monuments. Applied to the Cathedral of Modena and the Two Towers in Bologna, the study demonstrates how Static Structural Health Monitoring (SSHM) and Dynamic Structural Health Monitoring (DSHM) provide critical insights for cultural heritage safeguarding. Preliminary DSHM results from the Asinelli Tower further highlight the potential of this approach for dynamic analysis.
The Arthur of the Italians: The Arthurian Legend in Medieval Italian Literature and Culture ed. by Gloria Allaire, and F. Regina Psaki (review)
A comprehensive exploration of the Arthurian legend's influence on medieval Italian literature and culture reveals its significant yet understudied presence. The study, edited by Gloria Allaire and F. Regina Psaki, highlights that while Arthurian themes were more prevalent in prose romances, cantari, and Renaissance works rather than long verse romances, they played a crucial role in shaping Italian literary traditions. It also notes the complex linguistic landscape of early medieval Italy, where Arthurian texts emerged in Hebrew, Greek, and French before developing distinctly in Italian. The research employs comparative analysis to trace the evolution of Arthurian narratives across genres, including lyric poetry and prose, and examines their diffusion through key geographical centers. This volume fills a critical gap by providing the first full-length study on Italian Arthuriana since 1936, offering insights into its development, reception, and cultural significance.
In Situ Investigation of the Mechanical Strength of the Mortars: The Case of the Vaults of the Modena Cathedral
A minimal and preservative investigation revealed that the mechanical strength of mortars in the 12th-century Modena Cathedral's vaults varies significantly, correlating with crack patterns and damage severity. The study used on-site visual inspections and micro-destructive testing to differentiate between repair mortars from different historic periods, finding low resistance values that differed for lime mortar and gypsum. These findings were crucial in designing a minimal and reversible strengthening intervention for the cathedral following seismic damage in 2012.
La tutela dei beni culturali di interesse religioso tra Costituzione e convenzioni con le confessioni religiose
A key insight from this study is that the concept of 'religious reasons' extends beyond traditional 'cult reasons,' thereby limiting the State's authority over religiously significant cultural goods more than previously recognized. The research examines the interplay between Italian constitutional principles and international conventions, particularly with the Catholic Church, to explore how these dynamics influence the preservation and modification of heritage sites like Modena's Cathedral, Torre Civica, and Piazza Grande. It argues that the principle of laicity should guide the distribution of competences in such cases, using a leading example of liturgical modifications to illustrate this point. The study employs a legal and procedural analysis, focusing on the module of agreements between public authorities and religious organizations.
Environmental weathering of natural and artificial stones used in historical architecture: influence of microstructure and new restoration methods
A significant correlation was found between the vulnerability of natural and artificial stones to environmental weathering and their microstructure, specifically the product of carbonate content and specific surface area. This 'vulnerable specific surface area' offers a potential quantification for assessing stone resistance to environmental attack. The study exposed stone samples with varying microstructural features to slightly acidic aqueous solutions, simulating clean and acid rain, to test this hypothesis. Additionally, a novel consolidant using hydroxya-patite was developed, which significantly enhances the mechanical properties of weathered carbonate stones without blocking water exchange. This non-hazardous aqueous solution can penetrate deeply into the stone (> 2 cm) and provide strengthening within just two days.
Gli statuti delle confraternite modenesi dal X al XVI secolo
A comprehensive collection of pre-Tridentine statutes from Modena's confraternities, spanning the 10th to 16th centuries, offers unprecedented insight into the normative structures and socio-cultural dynamics of these lay organizations. The volume provides a nearly exhaustive set of documents, enabling analysis of their diachronic and synchronic evolutions, motivations for membership, social kinship networks, and community engagement. Key findings include the identification of lacunae in extant manuscripts and detailed descriptions of rituals, particularly musical practices, which shed light on the rich cultural life of these confraternities.
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