Building techniques in the Umbrian Middle Ages. From history to conservation

Umbria has a great, widely known, art and architectural heritage. Throughout the entirety of the Middle Ages, the unique geography and strategic location of this region promoted the development of a prolific architectural culture while the succession of various sovereignties left behind compelling civil, military and religious buildings.Systematic scientific investigation into the building techniques of Umbria in the Middle Ages has never been conducted despite the extensive studies focused on the monuments of this area. The aim of the present research is to identify successive techniques within the evolution of the building methods along the via Flaminia, in particular in the Umbrian region in XII and XIII centuries. The results are based on surveying and analyzing the masonry from the Middle Ages starting from the examination of the building materials used to their modifications and typologies. The current study is focused on architectural conservation and restoration and intends to extend the life of Umbrian architectural heritage while facilitating the understating of said patrimony through the promotion of its authenticity. Quintessential factors of this study, therefore, are the recognition and conservation of the building material. To this end, the analysis of the masonry becomes a fundamental instrument in the understanding of the subject itself and is a necessary element in the preservation of the entire architectural discovery.