Cupole maiolicate in Costiera amalfitana: il caso-studio della chiesa di San Gennaro a Vettica Maggiore

Settlements along the Amalfi coast have grown over centuries in harmony with the surrounding landscape. Constructions nestled on the steep sides of the peninsula and arranged in a balanced combination of natural and manmade elements were soon identified as 'topoi' of Mediterranean architecture. In particular a significant role was held by churches’ emerging domes which, once cladded with majolica tiles, became important territorial landmarks. Among them, the dome of San Gennaro church in Vettica Maggiore represents an interesting case where the recent recognition of the importance on an urban scale of its formal features – rather than the historical significance of its single parts – has led in 2008 to a controversial intervention, involving the substitution of its original majolica tiles. Regretfully, such a procedure is still nowadays quite spread along the Amalfi coast. Thus, today it is important to reaffirm the urgent need to preserve this fragile heritage, in order to avoid any further loss.