Domical Vaults in the Cistercian Abbey of Abbadia Cerreto: a Geometric Study

The Cistercian Abbey of Saints Peter and Paul of Abbadia Cerreto is a small jewel of Romanesque architecture hidden in the Lodi countryside in Lombardy. Both the church and the monastery (the latter now almost completely disappeared) conform to the main features of Cistercian architecture. The church is characterised by domical cross vaults, a type of cross vaulting with a raised mount common in Lombard Romanesque architecture from the 11th century to the 15th century. The research focuses on the geometric analysis of its vaults, exploiting the 3D model obtained with advanced digital survey technologies (static and dynamic laser scanning). The research represents a first step in identifying the existing links between the construction practice, geometry and architectural form of these particular types of vaults. The aim is to examine, within the framework of the general scheme characteristic of cross vaults with raised mounts, the formal characteristics of the domical ones in this case study. Future research activities aim to compare the same geometric aspects identified with those of the vaults characterising Romanesque-Lombard churches and Cistercian abbeys. The aim, indeed, is to exploit the geometric study of the vaults based on the digital model for the understanding and interpretation of the stylistic and historical-architectural aspects of the monument.