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Heritage
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History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage
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History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage

A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 4584

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mariangela Vandini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna Campus, Via degli Ariani 1, 48121 Ravenna, Italy
Interests: conservation science; archaeometry; applied sciences; cultural heritage
Dr. Sara Fiorentino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna Campus, Via degli Ariani 1, 48121 Ravenna, Italy
Interests: conservation science; archaeometry; applied sciences; cultural heritage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Pietro Maria Militello

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze Umanistiche, University of Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy
Interests: archeology; cultural heritage; prehistory; Mediterranean; Sicilia; Crete; sumptuary arts; excavation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In a historical moment shaped by profound transformations on an environmental and socio-cultural scale, the long-term preservation, accessibility and relevance of our shared cultural heritage needs to be re-considered by integrating scientific research with the principles of sustainable development.

The international scenario emphasizes how technological and scientific research and sustainable development can provide essential frameworks and strategies for conservation; promote economic, social and environmental benefits; and ensure the integration of cultural heritage into sustainable urban and tourism development. Scientific research endows us with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand, analyze, preserve and document cultural heritage effectively. The integration between research and sustainable development can, thus, led to the establishment of innovative framework and principles to ensure that the management and use of cultural heritage are environmentally sound, economically viable, socially equitable and contribute to the well-being of present and future generations.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue “History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage”, featuring new achievements within Recovery and Resiliency Plan Italian project CHANGES—CULTURAL HERITAGE ACTIVE INNOVATION FOR NEXT-GEN SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY (funded by the European Union—NextGenerationEU—under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR)—Mission 4 Education and research—Component 2 From research to business—Investment 1.3, Notice D.D. 341 of 15/03/2022, entitled: Cultural Heritage Active Innovation for Sustainable Society proposal code PE0000020—duration until 28.02.2026).

The project aims to establish an international reference center for training, research and technology transfer in the field of culture and cultural heritage. The goal is to enhance the role of cultural heritage, promoting new sustainable approaches for protection and enjoyment, creating stable partnerships between research and business and offering employment opportunities in the field.

Based on a hub (in this case, the Fondazione Changes) and spokes system (nine in this case), the main objective of CHANGES was to achieve a synergy between the humanities and sciences (in the strict sense), with the aim of increasing the attractiveness of the Italian cultural heritage system through the creation of expertise in all aspects of cultural heritage (knowledge, diagnostics, restoration, monitoring, economics, dissemination, etc.) and to establish public–private synergies with the construction of a supply chain between research centres and private entities, stimulating the relationship with private companies, through cascade call initiatives. Spoke number 6 (‘History, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage’) was led by the University of Catania, co-led by the Central Institute for Restoration, and involved seven other institutions as partners: the Universities of Bologna, Milan, Naples, Turin, Suor Orsola Benincasa, the Officina delle Pietre Dure, and the Fondazione 1563.

In particular, this Special Issue is aimed at fostering the results and achievements of a group of researchers belonging to Spoke 6—History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, whose aims are the development of integrated methodologies for the historical understanding, the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage and promoting a multidisciplinary approach involving humanistic, archeological, scientific and technological research.

In line with the journal’s scopes, this Special Issue aims to stimulate reflections on the role of cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable economic development through knowledge transfer and capacity building, rooted into research processes strongly oriented towards transdisciplinarity. Emphasis will be given to the discussion of integrated innovative approaches and best practices in the management, preservation and conservation of cultural heritage, ensuring its continued relevance and transmission across generations.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Understanding and Conservation: Scientific research, often termed “heritage science”, provides crucial insights into the materials, techniques and environmental factors that affect cultural heritage (tangible and intangible).
  • Innovation in Conservation Materials and Techniques: Scientific research drives the development of new and improved materials and techniques for conservation, ensuring the long-term preservation of cultural heritage.
  • Monitoring and Risk Assessment: Scientific research helps monitor the condition of cultural heritage sites and objects, identify potential risks (e.g., pollution, climate change, biological threats) and develop preventative measures.
  • Digital Documentation and Interpretation: Scientific methods, including 3D scanning and virtual reality, enable the accurate digital documentation of cultural heritage, facilitating wider access and research and engaging public interpretation.
  • Understanding Degradation Mechanisms: Scientific investigation helps identify the causes and mechanisms of deterioration in various materials, allowing for targeted conservation efforts.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mariangela Vandini
Dr. Sara Fiorentino
Prof. Dr. Pietro Maria Militello
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Heritage is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Publisher’s Notice

As stated above, the central purpose of this Special Issue (SI) is to present research from “CHANGES—CULTURAL HERITAGE ACTIVE INNOVATION FOR NEXT-GEN SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY”. With this goal in mind, the Guest Editors’ contribution to this Special Issue may be greater than standard Special Issues published by MDPI. Further details on MDPI's Special Issue guidelines can be found via the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/special_issues_guidelines. Heritage’s Editorial Office and Editor-in-Chief have approved this, and MDPI’s standard manuscript editorial processing procedure (https://www.mdpi.com/editorial_process) will be applied to all submissions. As per this procedure, Guest Editors are excluded from participating in the editorial process for their submission and/or for submissions from persons with whom a potential conflict of interest may exist. More details on MDPI’s conflict of interest policy for reviewers and editors can be found at https://www.mdpi.com/ethics#_bookmark22.

Keywords

  • cultural heritage
  • heritage management
  • sustainable development
  • conservation
  • conservation science

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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41 pages, 11702 KB  
Article
Knowledge, Materials, and Construction Techniques as Guiding Factors in Conservation Interventions: An Interpretative Approach for the House of Arianna in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii
by Renata Picone, Valentina Russo, Lia Romano, Ersilia Fiore and Sara Iaccarino
Heritage 2025, 8(12), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8120508 - 4 Dec 2025
Abstract
This paper presents a knowledge-based and interpretative model for the conservation of the House of Arianna, located in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, developed within the CHANGES project, Spoke 6—History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage. The research focused on two [...] Read more.
This paper presents a knowledge-based and interpretative model for the conservation of the House of Arianna, located in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, developed within the CHANGES project, Spoke 6—History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage. The research focused on two critical components of the site: the free-standing peristyle columns and the mosaic and frescoed surfaces preserved in situ. This workflow yielded a high-resolution digital model, analytical condition maps, and diagnostic datasets that directly inform conservation decisions. The results show that the columns exhibit internal discontinuities and weaknesses at their joints, a condition linked to heterogeneous construction techniques which increases the risk of drum slippage under wind and seismic loading. The mosaics display a marked loss of tesserae in exposed sectors over recent years, driven by moisture ingress, biological growth and mechanical stress. These findings support the adoption of low-impact, reversible measures, embedded within a prevention-first strategy based on planned conservation. The study formalizes a replicable methodology that aligns diagnostics, monitoring and conservation planning. By linking ‘skin’ and ‘structure’ within a unified interpretative matrix, the approach enhances both structural safety and material legibility. The workflow proposed here offers transferable guidance for the sustainable preservation and inclusive interpretation of exposed archaeological ensembles in the Vesuvian context and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)
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21 pages, 5647 KB  
Article
Integrated Comprehensive Characterization of Black Crusts from Milan’s Monumental Cemetery: A Synergistic Approach Combining Conventional and Unconventional Analytical Techniques
by Andrea Bergomi, Valeria Comite, Mattia Borelli, Chiara Andrea Lombardi, Elisa Festa, Mohamed Oujja, Marta Castillejo, Laura Maestro-Guijarro, Paula Maria Carmona-Quiroga, Ana Crespo, Michela Pirovano and Paola Fermo
Heritage 2025, 8(12), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8120506 - 1 Dec 2025
Viewed by 67
Abstract
Black crusts are degradation features found on stone buildings, offering valuable insights into local pollution sources. Their composition and structure reflect environmental conditions, making them important indicators for environmental and conservation studies. In this study, black crusts collected from funerary monuments in the [...] Read more.
Black crusts are degradation features found on stone buildings, offering valuable insights into local pollution sources. Their composition and structure reflect environmental conditions, making them important indicators for environmental and conservation studies. In this study, black crusts collected from funerary monuments in the Monumental Cemetery of Milan were comprehensively characterized using SEM-EDX, Raman spectroscopy, LIBS, and oxidative potential (OP) assays. SEM-EDX and Raman spectroscopy revealed extensive degradation of the substrate and the incorporation of pollutant-derived particles, with heavy metals such as Fe, Zn, and Pb detected in more than 90% of the samples. Correlation analysis proved effective in distinguishing major pollution sources, primarily vehicular and railway traffic, indicated by strong associations such as Zn–Mn (r = 0.896), Fe–Zn (r = 0.734), and Fe–Mn (r = 0.655), from minor sources linked to industrial emissions, reflected in correlations including Ti–Pb (r = 0.589), Pb–Cl (r = 0.702), and S–Pb (r = 0.661). Instead, LIBS analysis confirmed stratigraphic penetration of these elements beyond the surface layers, suggesting long-term accumulation. OP assays, applied here for the first time to black crusts, showed values between 0.5 and 3.0 pmol min−1 µg−1, indicating moderate oxidative reactivity linked to metal content. Overall, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of pollution-driven stone decay and support the development of more effective diagnostic and conservation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)
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23 pages, 7306 KB  
Article
Risk Analysis of Stratified Landscapes: Toward an Integrated System for Documenting and Managing Cultural Heritage in Southern Sicily
by Eliana Fischer, Gian Michele Gerogiannis, Erica Platania and Dario Puglisi
Heritage 2025, 8(12), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8120501 - 25 Nov 2025
Viewed by 125
Abstract
This study presents the preliminary results of the design and implementation of an advanced data management infrastructure developed to enhance the study, interpretation, and preservation of historical and archaeological contexts. Conducted within the framework of the PNRR CHANGES Project, Spoke 6, the initiative [...] Read more.
This study presents the preliminary results of the design and implementation of an advanced data management infrastructure developed to enhance the study, interpretation, and preservation of historical and archaeological contexts. Conducted within the framework of the PNRR CHANGES Project, Spoke 6, the initiative promotes the integration of scientific research, digital innovation, and cultural heritage enhancement. One of the principal outcomes of the project is the development and configuration of ARPAS (“Analisi del Rischio nel Paesaggio Stratificato” or “Risk Analysis of Stratified Landscape”), a centralised Geospatial Database capable of ensuring reliable data archiving, real-time analytical processing, and collaborative information sharing among researchers and institutions engaged in cultural heritage management. The paper discusses key methodological challenges related to the heterogeneity of available documentation and the limitations of existing tools currently used for heritage research and protection in the Italian, and particularly Sicilian, context. At the same time, it highlights the potential of the proposed system in terms of data accessibility, verifiability, and query ability, as well as its ability to integrate and interrelate heterogeneous datasets within a multilayered, interdisciplinary framework for cultural landscape research. The pilot deployment focuses on a geographic area in southeastern Sicily, drawing upon documentation of the cultural landscape across four provinces—Agrigento, Catania, Ragusa, and Siracusa—and integrating archaeological, architectural, and environmental data to support risk assessment and heritage conservation strategies. Results appear to demonstrate ARPAS’s potential to improve the completeness of information, manage stratification across temporal layers, and support predictive and preventive analyses for cultural heritage at the landscape level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)
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12 pages, 273 KB  
Article
The Digitization of Human Skeletal Collections: New Challenges and Perspectives
by Maria Giovanna Belcastro, Rita Sorrentino, Davide Mameli, Annalisa Pietrobelli, Teresa Nicolosi, Valentina Mariotti, Carla Figus, Elisa Lodolo, Laura Forni, Stefano Ratti, Antonio Rosas, Luis Francisco Ríos Frutos, Antony Colombo, Melania Maglio, Lucia Martini, Gregorio Marchiori, Gianluca Giavaresi and Milena Fini
Heritage 2025, 8(11), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8110488 - 19 Nov 2025
Viewed by 487
Abstract
Human skeletal remains are a crucial source for understanding biocultural and evolutionary processes. Yet, their study and management are challenged by social, religious, and political factors, placing them in a ‘grey area’ within cultural heritage. Human skeletal collections often carry colonial legacies, raising [...] Read more.
Human skeletal remains are a crucial source for understanding biocultural and evolutionary processes. Yet, their study and management are challenged by social, religious, and political factors, placing them in a ‘grey area’ within cultural heritage. Human skeletal collections often carry colonial legacies, raising ethical concerns and new challenges for research, curation, and public engagement in academic and museum institutions. In this context, digitization offers expanding opportunities for public exhibition and definition of human remains as part of our culture, while ensuring long-term preservation. Virtual approaches serve also as a useful tool to investigate human variability from evolutionary, bioarchaeological, and forensic perspectives. Moreover, digital access fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and research by enabling global scholarly engagement beyond physical limitations. Through the CHANGES project, we have initiated the digitization of the Documented Human Osteological Collections (DHOC) of the University of Bologna—one of Italy’s largest collections—making these resources available via the 3D data repository MorphoSource. This contribution provides updates on newly digitized material and reports on access requests received to date. We conclude by considering the emerging responsibilities of anthropologists in the use of virtual human skeletal collections, promoting best practices for the management of the anthropological digital twins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)
32 pages, 21706 KB  
Article
Seismic Risk Assessment and Sustainable Geotechnical Solutions for Building Heritage: A Case Study in Southeastern Sicily
by Angela Fiamingo, Ettore Mangione, Glenda Abate and Maria Rossella Massimino
Heritage 2025, 8(11), 485; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8110485 - 18 Nov 2025
Viewed by 224
Abstract
The protection of historic buildings in seismic-prone regions is a critical challenge requiring strategies that balance structural safety with cultural preservation. This study proposes an integrated methodological framework for assessing seismic risk in heritage contexts by combining Geographic Information System (GIS)-based large-scale analyses [...] Read more.
The protection of historic buildings in seismic-prone regions is a critical challenge requiring strategies that balance structural safety with cultural preservation. This study proposes an integrated methodological framework for assessing seismic risk in heritage contexts by combining Geographic Information System (GIS)-based large-scale analyses with detailed Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations. At the urban scale, the framework is applied to more than 70 buildings in the historic center of Bronte (Eastern Sicily, Italy) to evaluate Soil–Structure Interaction (SSI) effects and identify priority areas for mitigation. At a detailed scale, the approach is validated through an in-depth investigation of the San Giovanni Evangelista bell-tower, a representative historic structure within the study area. For this case, sustainable Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI) systems using well-graded Gravel–Rubber Mixtures (wgGRMs) are numerically tested as a low-impact retrofitting strategy. The results demonstrate that combining large-scale mapping with detailed structural modeling provides both broad urban insight and accurate site-specific evaluations, offering a replicable decision-support tool for seismic risk reduction in heritage environments. Additionally, wgGRMs-based GSI system significantly reduces seismic accelerations and drifts, offering a low-impact, sustainable retrofitting solution that reuses waste materials and fully preserves architectural integrity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)
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38 pages, 12996 KB  
Article
Street and Urban Muralism in Public Art: Conservation Between Evolution and Research in the Methods of the Istituto Centrale per Il Restauro
by Paola Mezzadri, Sara De Angelis, Rebecca Picca Orlandi, Michela Renna and Giancarlo Sidoti
Heritage 2025, 8(11), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8110483 - 17 Nov 2025
Viewed by 353
Abstract
This paper presents an overview of a research line developed at the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro within the CHANGES (Cultural Heritage Active Innovation for Next-Gen Sustainable Society) project, funded under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The research was developed in [...] Read more.
This paper presents an overview of a research line developed at the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro within the CHANGES (Cultural Heritage Active Innovation for Next-Gen Sustainable Society) project, funded under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The research was developed in different phases: a first one dedicated to the study of the deep background and the state of the art in the ICR background: history, methodologies and research in the field; a second phase was dedicated to the selection of a specific urban art mural, as a key study with conservation problems connected to some of the principal preservation treatments related to the outdoor context; the mural was also identified as a beloved icon in the public space with a profound socio-cultural meaning for the community. Nido di Vespe, created in 2014 by the artist Lucamaleonte is part of a broader artistic project called M.U.Ro-Museum of Urban Art of Rome, an open-air public art museum located in the Quadraro district in Rome, designed by the artist Diavù. A third phase focused on the research in ICR laboratories, specifically addressing: cleaning, reintegration, and protection strategies adapted to dynamic outdoor environments. A multi-step cleaning system based on polyvinyl alcohol-borax semi-interpenetrated hydrogels loaded with nanostructured fluids was developed to selectively remove spray-paint vandalism while preserving the chemically similar original pictorial layers. The reintegration phase investigated acrylic and urea-aldehyde resins as binders to produce compatible, reversible, and UV-traceable retouching and infilling materials. For surface protection, multilayer coating systems incorporating nanoparticles with antimicrobial, photocatalytic, and UV-stabilizing properties were formulated to enhance durability and chromatic stability. Laboratory tests on mock-ups simulating typical street and urban art materials and morphologies showed satisfactory results, while diagnostic investigations on Nido di Vespe provided the reference data to calibrate the experiments with real mural conditions. Cleaning tests demonstrated promising removal efficiency, influenced by the chemical composition, thickness of the overpainted layers, and surface roughness. The reintegration system met the expected performance requirements, as the tested binders provided good results and allowed the development of compatible, reversible, and distinguishable solutions. Protective coatings showed good results in terms of chromatic stability and surface integrity; however, the long-term behavior of both reintegration, cleaning, and protection systems requires further evaluation. The results achieved so far support the development of sustainable and flexible conservation strategies for the conservation of contemporary street and urban murals and will guide the future application of the selected materials and methodologies in pilot conservation interventions on the mural chosen as a meaningful case study within the broader research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)
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23 pages, 7279 KB  
Article
The Complex Life of Stone Heritage: Diagnostics and Metabarcoding on Mosaics from the Archaeological Park of Baia (Bacoli, Italy)
by Alessandro De Rosa, Giorgio Trojsi, Massimo Rippa, Antimo Di Meo, Matteo Borriello, Pasquale Rossi, Paolo Caputo and Paola Cennamo
Heritage 2025, 8(11), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8110470 - 10 Nov 2025
Viewed by 332
Abstract
This study investigates the biodeterioration of mosaic surfaces in a semi-confined archaeological environment along the Phlegraean coast (Baiae, Italy), focusing on the interaction between salt efflorescence and phototrophic biofilms. A multi-analytical approach was employed, integrating in situ observations with ex situ analyses, including [...] Read more.
This study investigates the biodeterioration of mosaic surfaces in a semi-confined archaeological environment along the Phlegraean coast (Baiae, Italy), focusing on the interaction between salt efflorescence and phototrophic biofilms. A multi-analytical approach was employed, integrating in situ observations with ex situ analyses, including SEM/EDS, FTIR spectroscopy, and metabarcoding (16S and 18S rRNA), to characterize both abiotic and biotic alteration patterns. Results highlight subtle traces of spatial differentiation: samples from the more exposed sector showed a more consistent colonization by halotolerant and halophilic taxa, particularly among Halobacteria and Rubrobacter, along with abundant sodium, chloride, and sulfate signals suggestive of active salt crystallization. Protected areas exhibit a comparable presence of salts with less diverse halophilic communities that vary along a vertical gradient of light exposure. The integration of chemical and biological data supports a model in which salt stress and biofilm development are co-dependent and synergistic in driving surface degradation. These findings emphasize the need for context-specific conservation strategies that account for the combined action of environmental salinity and microbial communities on historical materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)
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24 pages, 12006 KB  
Article
Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Knowledge of Ancient Monuments: Integrating Archaeological, Archaeometric, and Historical Data to Reconstruct the Building History of the Benedictine Monastery of Catania
by Roberta Occhipinti, Maura Fugazzotto, Cristina Maria Belfiore, Lucrezia Longhitano, Gian Michele Gerogiannis, Paolo Mazzoleni, Pietro Maria Militello and Germana Barone
Heritage 2025, 8(11), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8110467 - 6 Nov 2025
Viewed by 291
Abstract
The Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena in Catania, a UNESCO World Heritage site, embodies a complex architectural and historical stratigraphy, reflecting successive construction phases, functional changes, and the impact of catastrophic events, including the 1669 lava flow and the 1693 earthquake. As part [...] Read more.
The Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena in Catania, a UNESCO World Heritage site, embodies a complex architectural and historical stratigraphy, reflecting successive construction phases, functional changes, and the impact of catastrophic events, including the 1669 lava flow and the 1693 earthquake. As part of the CHANGES project, this study combines historical–archaeological research with non-invasive in situ scientific analyses to investigate the materials and the conservation state of the monumental complex. Stratigraphic analysis identified multiple masonry and plaster units, allowing the reconstruction of five main construction phases and related functional changes. Portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF), Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFT), and handheld optical microscopy provided rapid insights into the chemical and mineralogical composition of plasters and mortars, highlighting lime-based binders with variable aggregate, including volcanic clasts, sand, and cocciopesto. In situ diagnostic analyses allowed us to distinguish pre- and post-earthquake materials, while historical data contextualized construction phases and functional transformations. The integration of archaeological and scientific approaches proved to be complementary: historical evidence guides the selection of analytical targets, while diagnostic results enrich and validate the interpretation of the building’s evolution. This interdisciplinary methodology establishes a robust framework for the understanding and valorization of complex cultural heritage sites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)
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35 pages, 11658 KB  
Article
An Approach to Risk Assessment and Planned Preventative Maintenance of Cultural Heritage: The Case of the Hypogeum Archaeological Site of Sigismund Street (Rimini, Italy)
by Anna Casarotto, Sara Fiorentino and Mariangela Vandini
Heritage 2025, 8(9), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8090344 - 23 Aug 2025
Viewed by 923
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive approach to risk management and planned preventative maintenance (PPM) for cultural heritage, focusing on the hypogeum archaeological site beneath the Chamber of Commerce in Rimini, Italy. Hypogeal environments pose unique conservation challenges due to their microclimates, biological threats, [...] Read more.
This study presents a comprehensive approach to risk management and planned preventative maintenance (PPM) for cultural heritage, focusing on the hypogeum archaeological site beneath the Chamber of Commerce in Rimini, Italy. Hypogeal environments pose unique conservation challenges due to their microclimates, biological threats, and structural vulnerabilities. Applying the ABC Method—developed by ICCROM and CCI—this research systematically identifies, analyzes, and prioritizes risks associated with agents of risks. The methodology was complemented by the Nara Grid to assess the site’s authenticity and cultural value, aiding in the delineation of risk areas and informing strategic conservation priorities. The study identifies efflorescence formation, flooding risks, and lack of management guidelines as extreme threats, proposing tailored treatments and practical interventions across multiple layers of control. Through environmental monitoring, empirical analysis, and a multidisciplinary framework, the research offers a replicable model for sustainable conservation and preventive heritage management in similar subterranean contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)
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Review

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38 pages, 6265 KB  
Review
Towards the Definition of Guidelines for the Conservation of Mural Paintings in Hypogea
by Sara Iafrate, Manuel Giandomenico, Roberta Cucchietti, Chiara Russo, Marco Bartolini, Lucia Conti, Sara De Angelis, Vanessa Fontani, Alma Kumbaric, Giancarlo Sidoti, Marco Tescari and Giorgio Sobrà
Heritage 2025, 8(11), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8110472 - 10 Nov 2025
Viewed by 569
Abstract
Preventive conservation and restoration of mural paintings in hypogean environments is a significant challenge. These types of settings are particularly difficult to manage due to their peculiar morphological and microclimatic features. Since its foundation in 1939, the Central Institute for Restoration (Istituto Centrale [...] Read more.
Preventive conservation and restoration of mural paintings in hypogean environments is a significant challenge. These types of settings are particularly difficult to manage due to their peculiar morphological and microclimatic features. Since its foundation in 1939, the Central Institute for Restoration (Istituto Centrale per il Restauro—ICR) within the Italian Ministry of Culture has been engaged in the prevention and safety of these unique cultural heritage assets. Starting from a holistic analysis of vulnerability and hazards specific to hypogean environments, this study examines the main risks and corresponding conservation strategies. Particular attention is given to the impact of residual risk on restoration decision-making, with the aim of defining logistical and operational requirements to carry out sustainable and enduring interventions in these complex settings. The compatibility and durability of restoration materials under hypogean conditions are also examined. Furthermore, thanks to funding provided by the PNRR CHANGES project, a few research directions are proposed to address unresolved issues through the investigation and assessment of innovative products and methodologies. This review aims to lay the foundation for the development of guidelines incorporating protocols for the conservation and restoration of mural paintings in hypogean contexts, with particular attention to the needs and constraints imposed by these specific environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)
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