ARMATURE E COMPLEMENTI IN FERRO NELLE CUSPIDI MAIOLICATE DEI CAMPANILI IN SICILIA

Giovanni Fatta1, Calogero Vinci2

1 Dipartimento di Architettura (DARCH), Università di Palermo, viale delle Scienze, giovanni.fatta@unipa.it

2 Dipartimento di Architettura (DARCH), Università di Palermo, viale delle Scienze, calogero.vinci@unipa.it

ABSTRACT

Since the Classical era, the architecture of the Mediterranean area has been characterized by polychromy. Majolica tiles are common in its border regions, reworking the local building culture according to the architecture of the Islamic world: from surface decorations in brick and shingle, to less frequent three-dimensional elements that is widespread in the spires of Sicilian area. From a structural point of view, we can distinguish the spires where the load-bearing function is entrusted exclusively to wedge-shaped bricks conveniently arranged, from those where they are just decorative elements. In some cases, however, the arrangement of the wedges had to perform a dual function – static and decorative. A further difference is represented by the presence, inside the spire, of other elements such as wood or iron able to provide resistance to external stresses. The top element is made in most cases by a sphere made of metal, in which is inserted the rod holding the wrought iron cross and the metal termination. The inclusion of these elements is traced back to the Middle Age, when within the ball were often included the relics of the saint to whom the church was consecrated. The inaccurate results of consolidation and/or restoration works performed on these spires show that unfortunately operators often improvise this kind of interventions ignoring both the structural and decorative aspect of these metallic elements, thus leading to the damage and decay of these constructions.

Key-words

Sicilia, cusps, constructive technics, safeguard