THE HYPOGEA OF SANTARCANGELODI ROMAGNA

NOTES FOR THE VALORISATIONOF A HIDDEN HERITAGE

Chiara Mariotti , Andrea Ugolini , Alessia Zampini1 2 3

1 AlmaMaterStudiorum,UniBo,DipartimentodiArchitettura,chiara-mariotti@hotmail.it

2 AlmaMaterStudiorum,UniBo,DipartimentodiArchitettura,a.ugolini@unibo.it

3 AlmaMaterStudiorum,UniBo,DipartimentodiArchitettura,alessiazampini@yahoo.it

ABSTRACT

The hypogeus settlements of Romagna, thanks to their complexity and diversity, define a real underground

world,stilllittleknownandinvestigated.

The hypogeus architecture of the Santarcangelo medieval hamlet constitutes a complex system of artificial

caves documented since the XV century: a real subterranean city, dug into the Jovis Hill. The molassic

consistency of the ground has permitted the creation of about 150 caves, whose primitive function has been

untill now uncertain: maybe born as sacred places, the only certainty was their use as wine cellars and air-

raidshelters.

Starting from a previously existing cataloguing of the whole underground system, with the forecast of new

reliefs, the research aims at increasing the knowledge regarding the hypogea, monitoring and describing their

state of deterioration. The main structural damage and the bio-deterioration of the surfaces are also

highlighted and from these criticalities an appropriate intervention strategy is developed toward an accurate

conservation. Because of the testimonial and historical importance of the complex, the essay deals also with

theproblemsconnectedtothe fruitionofthecaves,alreadypartlyopenedtothepublic.

In conclusion, all the information would flow into some notes for a planned preventive maintenance

regarding not only the whole hypogeus complex, but also its context. Therefore the very aim of this research

projectistodevelopanambitiousprojectof valorisation. [CM,AU,AZ]

Keywords: conservation,valorisation,plannedpreventivemaintenance,hypogeum,Santarcangelo