The role of history in the restoration and preservation process. Problems of conservation of the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna from the historical and technical point of view

The restoration and the conservation process, aimed to pass the goods to future generations, must be considered part of the history of cultural heritage. These actions are defining the identity of the heritage, also of the architectural one. In fact, they are representing the period of realization and they are marking the time passage on the building. Through a tentative general theoretical speech on history and identity and a short analysis of the example of the restoration and the conservation of the basilica of San Vitale (VI Cent.) in Ravenna, the paper means to introduce the role of history in architectural heritage restoration, and the historical character of restoration and conservation themselves, considering the survey of the construction systems.