LA CONSERVAZIONEE LA VALORIZZAZIONEDELLA CRIPTADI

EPIFANIONELL’AREAARCHEOLOGICA DI SAN VINCENZO AL

VOLTURNO

Paolo Bensi , Mario Casaburo1 2

1 Dipartimento di Scienze per l’Architettura, Scuola Politecnica - Università degli Studi di Genova,

paolo.bensi@arch.unige.it; paolo.bensi@libero.it

2 Dipartimento di Lettere e Beni Culturali, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Santa Maria Capua Vetere (CE);

mariocasaburo@gmail.com;mario.casaburo@unina2.it

ABSTRACT

The crypt of the Abbot Epifanio (ninth century AD) inside the archaeological area of San Vincenzo al

Volturno, of which we have dealt with in detail, has been characterized by dramatic historical events: silting

at the end of the ninth century until the random rediscovery in the nineteenth century. It is decorated with a

cycle of wall paintings, mostly still well preserved, which has been the subject of studies and conservation

efforts throughout the twentieth century, until the last restorations conducted by ICR under the direction of

Giuseppe Basile between 1983 and 1987.

The last two decades have been characterized by intense debates on the protection and management of the

site, that have repeatedly drawn attention to the need to implement a plan for the preservation and

maintenance of the findings that emerged, their appropriate use and development in accordance with the new

provisionsoftheUrbani’sCodeofCulturalHeritage(2004).

It was therefore felt to be necessary, in the light of so many ideas for critical reflection, that the work

concentrateitsinvestigationnotonlyontheconservationhistoryofthepictorialcycle-essentiallyre-reading

the comparison between the methodologies used in the past restorations and the current state of degradation,

favored by the presence in underground environment - but in the theoretical reflection on the relationship

between preservation and use of the entire monument, assuming, where possible, some solution that can

prevent possible degradation processes in the future and is be able to ensure, as already mentioned, the

developmentofanintegratedsystemofpromotionofculturalheritage.

Key-words: wall paintings, history of conservation; restoration; archeological site, promotion of cultural

heritage