Articles by Daniele Malfitana

2021 Open Access Article Download PDF BibTeX

New data about the Cathedral of Catania by geophysical investigations

Giovanni Leucci, Lara De Giorgi, Giovanni FragalĂ , Antonino Mazzaglia, Daniele Malfitana

Abstract

The town of Catania, located in the southern part of the Sicily region, Italy, holds the remains of an ancient settlement in the city centre. One of the most important buildings is the Cathedral and the buried Achillean Baths. The Cathedral was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt after the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that occurred over time. The first building dates back to the period 1078-1093 and was built on the ruins of the Roman Achillean Baths, on the initiative of Count Roger, acquiring all the characteristics of an equipped (i.e. fortified) ecclesia. Already in 1169, a catastrophic earthquake demolished it almost completely, leaving intact only the apse. In 1194 a fire created considerable damage and finally in 1693 the earthquake that hit the Val di Noto destroyed it almost completely. The area around the Cathedral is today highly urbanized, but it was the locus of social and political life over the centuries for people of different cultures who have inhabited the area since the 8th century BC. Therefore, this area contains stratigraphically complex layers of buildings and other remains, which can help understand the use of this area of the town over many centuries. A ground-penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography surveys were performed inside and outside the Cathedral of Catania. Data were visualized in three-dimensions using a standard amplitude slice technique as well as the construction of isosurface images of amplitudes. These images reveal the position of architectural features whose shape, size and burial depth suggest they are Roman and earlier in age. The features mapped overlap the development of the Achillean Baths and the presence of some tombs and unknown rooms.

«Archeologia e Calcolatori» 2021, 32.2, 271-281; doi: 10.19282/ac.32.2.2021.25

2016 Open Access Article Download PDF BibTeX

OpenCiTy Project. Open Data, GIS, webGIS per l'archeologia urbana e il patrimonio culturale di Catania

Daniele Malfitana, Giuseppe Cacciaguerra, Antonino Mazzaglia, Samuele Barone, Valerio Noti

Abstract

The intent of the OpenCiTy Project is to create a platform able to produce, collect, manage and share heterogeneous information, in order to increase community awareness about the history of Catania. The first goal is to provide a powerful and versatile instrument linked to the research needs, the protection, enjoyment, appreciation and promotion of the Cultural Heritage. The core of the project consists of a relational database specifically structured and placed inside an Open Source GIS Platform, allowing a full management and analysis of the data on a geographic basis. The data in the platform will cover different areas of interest. The archaeological, monumental, environmental and cultural evidence of Catania are stored with a high level of detail in order to offer a better understanding of the complex urban stratification. The final output is represented by a webGIS platform showing the information on geographical base.

«Archeologia e Calcolatori» 2016, Supplemento 8, 150-161