Constructive characters of the Western Sicilian masonry in the XVIII and XIX centuries

The tradition of weight-bearing walls in the Western Sicily - mainly due to the frequent earthquakes occurring in Palermo between the XVIII-XIX centuries (the most destructive happened in 1726, 1751, and 1823) - imposed new types of masonry that, following the precepts of the rule of the art, suggested more stringent methods of well-construction, both in the choice of materials and in the adoption of novel constructive technologies.The technical culture of that time was able to refile the constructive methods introducing appropriate improvements and experiments, which promoted the development of new knowledge (matter, materials, and constructive techniques), systems of consolidation and anti-seismic techniques, both for the introduction of new materials and in the identification of the most appropriate masonry.The result is a compendium of noteworthy techniques that brilliantly solved the problems related to the seismic risk as well as helped the interaction between masonry, depending on types, and the other structural and not structural systems (floors, vaults, roofs, overhangs, ceilings, etc.) connected to it.The aim of this work is analyzing the consolidated construction practices – also through new documentary acquisitions – and discussing some cases of study, that identify some notable exampla for the originality and the experimentation of the final adopted solutions.At the same time, we want to produce an atlas of traditional constructive techniques that may be extremely useful to scholars investigating the field of historical construction as well as to technicians and contractors working in restoration and structural reinforcements towards a respectful and compatible project.Moreover, in comparison to the knowledge of construction rules handed by treaties and manuals, we want to transmit the building techniques of the Sicilian tradition, in order to properly report them in respect to a wider technical ambit, emphasizing also the specific characteristics and elements of originality that we have founded during our researches.