A Geotechnical Study for the Historical Heritage Preservation of the City of Noto (Italy)

Eastern Sicily is extremely rich with artistic and monumental heritage, but at the same time it is the most seismically active area of Italy. In particular, the city of Noto, now considered the capital of baroque in Sicily, was destroyed by the 1693 Earthquake and rebuilt in another site, as many other cities. The seismic microzonation is now being studied for this area. The following in situ investigations were carried out in order to determine the soil profile and the geotechnical characteristics of the site under consideration, with special attention for the variation of shear modulus and damping with depth: Geological boring, Down Hole (DH) tests, Dilatometer tests (DMT), Cone penetration tests (CPT) and Standard penetration tests (SPT). Moreover, the following laboratory investigations were carried out on undisturbed samples: Resonant column tests (RCT), Cyclic loading torsional shear tests (CLTST), Cyclic loading triaxial tests (CLTxT), Oedometer tests and Direct shear tests. This work aims to be the starting point for a correct approach to the problems concerning the safeguarding of the artistic and monumental heritage.