Ruins by the sea. Spanish towers in northern Puglia, between knowledge and risk of loss

The heritage of the 16th century towers built along the coast of the Kingdom of Naples against the Turkish attacks is today in heterogeneous conditions. Their best preservation is sometimes the result of a continuous use over time or strong restoration-reconstruction actions. Many towers, gradually abandoned since the end of 18th century, are in ruins, isolated in the country and excluded from visit trails, increasingly inaccessible. The position on the seafront makes their state of conservation very critical, with degenerative phenomena rapidly changing. A research conducted by the University of Florence and the POLIMI, is focusing on the study of the towers with a high risk of loss. The aim is to reach the best knowledge of construction, transformation and decay processes of these artefacts and an adequate level of risk awareness. This in order to identify the type, the urgency and the intensity of possible conservation works. Here we present the results of investigations carried out on a sample of the north coast of Puglia. After the complete documentation of the buildings, the work has been addressed to the recognition of the evolutionary phases and the building techniques. Typological and quantitative methods have been used to investigate the criteria of laying the stone masonry, outlining comparisons with techniques from the same period. Homogeneous groups of bricks have been analysed with mensio-chronological investigations. The study of stone material was made especially in relation to the action of the wind and the sea-salt aerosol. The concentration and penetration of salts has been evaluated according to the exposure of the surfaces in relation to the main air flows.