DEGRADO STRUTTURALE E SUPERFICIALE: IL CASO DELLA FACCIATA PRINCIPALE DELLA BASILICA DI SANTA CROCE A LECCE

Isabella Lapi1, Anita Guarnieri1 Salvatore Buonomo2, Giovanna Cacudi2 Fabrizio Vona3, Antonia Di Marzo3

1Direzione Regionale per i Beni Culturali della Puglia, Strada dei Dottula, Isolato 49, 70122 Bari

isabella.lapi@beniculturali.it; anita.guarnieri@beniculturali.it

2Soprintendenza per i Beni Architettonici e Paesaggistici della Puglia - Lecce

salvatore.buonomo@beniculturali.it; giovanna.cacudi@beniculturali.it

3Soprintendenza per i Beni Storico Artistici ed Etnoantropologici della Puglia

fabrizio.vona@beniculturali.it; antonia.dimarzo@beniculturali.it

ABSTRACT

The facade of S. Croce Church in Lecce is known as one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the Salento region, for his rich sculptural ornament, due to the use of Lecce limestone, a soft, porous locally stone, characterized by an excellent workability but a weak weather resistance and durability.

The first repairs of the facade were conducted in 1934, mainly consisting in the replacement of deteriorated or missing parts, in line with the principles stated in the theoretical approach of that period.

A major campaign of restoration followed in the 1980’s, when the facade showed stability problems, a phenomenon that led to intervene with a structural consolidation using reinforced perforations. In addition, the detachment of numerous pieces of decorative elements have justified a treatment of the entire façade with Paraloid B72 and ethyl silicate.

During the year 2011, the fall of some fragments at the gable end of the basilica of Santa Croce led the DirezioneRegionale della Puglia with the Soprintendenza BAP – Lecce and the Soprintendenza BSAE della Puglia to start a work of joint study and targeted inspections useful for planning the conservation interventions.

The Santa Croce facade appears a relevant case-study, which can provide data and reflections concerning the conservation of the local materials and the outcomes of consolidation methodologies for structural and superficial decay, like the reinforced perforations and the use of ethyl silicate and Paraloid, used extensively in the 1980’s on many listed monuments in Italy.

Key-words: Lecce limestone, structural and superficial decay, safety measures, monitoring, church of Santa Croce.