Municipality of Ravenna

RAVENNA (RA) | 2012 – 14

The walls of Ravenna are one of the rare examples in Italy of a late-ancient wall layout that is still well preserved for much of its extension. The interpretative hypotheses of scholars regarding the origins, development and chronology of this urban “monumental” complex are divergent. A peculiar feature is the stratification that took place at different ages belonging to a territory marked by the phenomenon of subsidence.

Description of the work_ From a technical point of view, restoration of the walls of the city of Ravenna consisted in the rehabilitation and consolidation of the sections of the wall that showed cracks or sagging, reconstruction of the collapsed and unstable sections of the wall, restoration of the fills as well as the removal of weeds and shrubs. Before the real restoration work, the cleaning operations of the brick wall were carried out. All the operations were carried out respecting the decorative and structural elements through the use of suitable materials to guarantee its restoration without eliminating the patinas of time.

The operating phases of intervention consisted in:

• Excavation over the wall and cleaning for the removal of roots and earth;

• Biological pest control;

• Consolidation of single detached bricks and replacement of the most damaged bricks: like-for-like replacement;

• Cleaning of joints;

• Grouting and sealing of joints.