Comparison of Digital Restoration and Reconstruction Techniques in Frescoes: Two Apulian Case Studies

The increasing application of digital technologies in cultural heritage has opened new perspectives for the conservation and enhancement of artworks. This paper explores the role of virtual restoration, defined as the set of computer graphics techniques used to visually reconstruct damaged or fragmented works without any physical intervention on the original object. Two case studies of Apulian frescoes illustrate the dual function of virtual restoration: firstly, the formulation of scientifically informed reconstruction hypotheses to visualise the presumed original appearance of the compromised or fragmentary frescoes of the Centopietre of Patù, with the output presented through a video mapping installation; secondly, the interpretive and communicative enhancement of the frescoes in their current state in the Church of San Pietro in Otranto. The methodology combines photographic documentation, degradation analysis, digital optimisation, and graphical reconstruction, with the output presented through a Mixed Reality application for Meta Quest 3. These examples demonstrate how virtual restoration can serve as a non-invasive tool for research, documentation, and public engagement with cultural heritage, providing valuable support to traditional conservation practices.