Dec. 10 – The great contribution of skills provided by Italy in the international restoration efforts of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem continues. The work, financially supported by the Palestinian government, sees many Italians involved. The complete picture of the research and intervention will be detailed on Friday, December 12, starting at 9:30, at the Aula 1 of the Servants Complex of the University of Siena, during a conference dedicated to this special monument of Christianity. Reconstruction of the truss roof, recovery of the wall surfaces and mosaics, restoration of the entrance’s wooden door dating back to the 13th century… All these works began back in 2013 with the help of a team of archaeologists from the University of Siena, composed of Giovanna Bianchi, Stefano Campana and Giuseppe Fichera. In 2010, following an international tender, the preliminary study of the monument was entrusted to a multidisciplinary team coordinated by the Ferrara Research Consortium (University of Ferrara), with the aim of drawing up the restoration project. In 2013, a Prato company, Attridge, was awarded the execution of the restorations, still underway, under the supervision of a university. The conference will take place on Friday in connection with the headquarters of the University of Siena in Grosseto (assembly hall, via Zanardelli, 2), while it is also planned to connect live with the restoration site of the basilica. The event is organized by the Medieval Archeology course of the Department of History and Cultural Heritage, directed by Gabriella Piccinni. Speakers include: Claudio Alessandri of the University of Ferrara; Nicola Macchioni from the Ivalsa-Florence CNR; Mauro Bernabei of CNR-Trento; Alessandro Curuni Spiridione, Alessandra Cattaneo, Nicola Santuopoli, Elisabetta Concina of the University of Rome La Sapienza and Gianmarco Piacenti of Piacenti Spa.
