Integrated survey techniques: preliminary studies for the conservation of Villa Galvagnina

On May 20, 2012, an earthquake of magnitude ML = 5.9 hit a vast area of the Po Valley, in the territory across Lombardia, Veneto and Emilia, with the epicentre close to Finale Emilia. The seismic event, unusually intense for the area, caused extensive damage to the built heritage, so that six years later many buildings are still waiting for the necessary restoration works. One of them is the Villa Galvagnina in Moglia, in the province of Mantua. The damages caused by the earthquake made necessary emergency strengthening works. Alongside these emergency measures, the Local Office of the Ministry of Culture considered suitable to start more detailed studies on this neglected asset. The present study is part of the Superintendence initiatives, concerning the mapping of the building materials, a survey about murals’ decay, as well as the damage and crack patterns. The aim of this data acquisition campaign is to identify the main risk factors for the preservation of the villa and to identify possible strategies for the strengthening and conservation works. The article critically presents the working method adopted for the survey setting up. The data acquisition steps, the difficulties experienced, and the choices made are fully described and some preliminary considerations are also expressed on the main damage suffered by the villa and on the ongoing deterioration.