Role of diagnostic surveys in the conservation of the former mother-church of Santa Margherita di Belice in Sicily: preliminary tests and restoration site checks

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a campaign of non-destructive and minimally invasive tests that were conducted in the former mother church of Santa Margherita di Belice (Agrigento, Sicily), damaged during the earthquake in 1968 and now re-used as a “Museum of Memory”. It includes a summary of the refl ections that arose during the preliminary surveys and instrumental tests, and reasons that supported the choice of investigations to be performed and methods to be specifi cally applied for the conservation of the architectural heritage. An innovative method designed to produce an effective diagnosis for the localization of defects and the choice of restoration techniques has been applied: its goal is to achieve a synergy between photogrammetric survey and diagnostic graphs. The elaboration of the project will be implemented with the support of scientifi c diagnostic tools this way, in addition to the sensory evaluations already carried out. The paper also introduces the result of investigations made during the conservation works in progress. The diagnostic checks have been carried out at the points where the defects were diagnosed earlier, to verify the quality of the interventions and, therefore, raise the quality levels of preservation yard.