Refurbishment

San Giovanni San Giovanni San Giovanni San Giovanni Baptistery

(6th Century A.C.)

“Santa Maria delle Grazie” Basilica (5th – 6th Century A.C.) and “San Giovanni” Baptistery

(6th Century A.C.), in conjunction with the nearby “Santa Eufemia” Basilica (476 A.C.) ,

represent one of the most well preserved triptych of Pre-Christian religious buildings.

Santa Maria delle Grazie Basilica

and San Giovanni Baptistery

GABRIO PIGO ARCHITECTGABRIO PIGO ARCHITECTGABRIO PIGO ARCHITECTGABRIO PIGO ARCHITECT

Client: Municipality of Grado Municipality of Grado Municipality of Grado Municipality of Grado — Province of Gorizia — Italy

Project cost: € 770,000.00 770,000.00 770,000.00 770,000.00

Cathegory: RefurbishmentRefurbishmentRefurbishmentRefurbishment

Planning: 2001200120012001———— 2003 2003 2003 2003

Status of works: Finished in May 2005Finished in May 2005Finished in May 2005Finished in May 2005

Santa Maria delle Grazie Santa Maria delle Grazie Santa Maria delle Grazie Santa Maria delle Grazie Basilica

(5th—6th Century A.C.)

GABRIO GABRIO GABRIO GABRIO PIGOPIGOPIGOPIGO ARCHITECTARCHITECTARCHITECTARCHITECT

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The Pre-Christian “Santa Maria delle Gra-

zie” Basilica was erected over a hall,

probably built in the 4th Century A.C., dedi-

cated to the cult of the Roman divinity of

Mitra. The construction of the Basilica can

be dated to between the second half of the

5th and the beginning of the 6th century.

The perimeter of the church has always

been the same, while the elevation levels

point out the two different phases of con-

struction. The lower level of the right aisle,

such as that of the apse, can be dated

back to the 5th Century A.C. Into the apse

you can see the Episcopal pulpit, the Me-

dieval marble mosaic and the older position of the altar, while along the right aisle you can ad-

mire the older mosaic floor. The upper level of the nave and the left aisle are part of the later

phase. Here you can see the rhythm of the Greek marble columns, decorated with Byzantine

capitals. At the end of the nave there is a beautiful altar enclosed by a marble chancel, with a

wooden “pergula” sustained by marble columns. The ceilings of the nave and aisles are made of

a wooden structure, with on top cotto tiles and covered by tile roof.

Both monuments were refurbished many times over the

centuries. In the 17h Century, they were covered by a Ba-

roque installation that was removed during 1920s refurbish-

ing campaigns. The most important works were made in

this period, with the intention of revealing the hypothetical

original image, that is the one which we can see now. After-

wards, there were other important works during a campaign

in 1932 and a following one in 1952. After these campaigns,

both buildings were left without refurbishings. The ordinary

maintenance works were the only adjustments brought to

the structures. In consequence of this, both buildings got into

a critical preservation state. As preventive measure, due to

collapse risk, they were closed to the public use in 1998. Af-

ter this refurbishing campaign, started in 2003, the buildings

were given back to the Community in 2005. Now they are in

an excellent state of preservation and are used daily for reli-

gious functions and christenings.


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pre works cross — section pre works longitudinal — section

Project details of roofing

Gabrio pigo architect

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details of exterior scaffoldings

details of interior scaffoldings

and marble elements protections

completed works of the nave

detail of “monaco e saetta” the nave and apse before works

details of marble columns after works the Episcopal pulpit after works

the aisle after works

Gabrio pigo architect

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Work in progress — refurbishment of roofing

Anti—woodworm treatments

Ventilated roof detail Waterproof insulation and roof tiles laying

Final result

Ventilated roof laying

Addition of “monaco e saetta” Head of beam treatment Substitution of elements

addition of structural elements and replacement of cotto tiles

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Restoration of painted cotto tiles after their reposition

Plaster finishing

Restoration of damaged wall elements

Work in progress — details

Fixing of broken stone elements

Closing of fissure

Plaster finishing

Stone and brick elements peeling


The “San Giovanni” Baptistery nearby was built by

patriarch Elia in the middle of 6th Century. The building

has an eight-sided plan and some 12-meter-high walls.

This design gives a lot of slenderness to each wall and

induce the eye to look up to the ceiling, made of an as-

tonishing, wooden umbrella structure. The roofing is

made of the same materials of the Basilica. The plan is

characterized by an hexagonal baptismal font, located in

the middle of a beautiful mosaic floor. In this way, when

you go into the Baptistery you can see the font and the

apse on the recess. The ambient is very bright, due to

the big and high windows that let the sunshine in.

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Gabrio Pigo Architect

Page8


Structure of the umbrella steel anchor elements for the irreparabile head of beams

Hollow track for the stretched steel cable and corner steel saddle

Safety steel cable

Closing of tracks Head key of steel cable

Stretched steel cable

The images above represent the aseismic

solution that was adopted to protect the

building as much as possible, in case of

earthquake. Two encirclements were

created, above and below the windows,

by putting inside the wall two stretched

steel cables

Documents

Refurbishment