The improvement and restoration intervention mainly targeted the early Christian basilica of Santa Maria: its remains are located next to the Romanesque basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in the Siponto archaeological site in Manfredonia.

Over the course of the works, a careful philological study was carried out in order to completely re-envision the ancient structures and the cultural ties between all different artistic stratifications. Subsequent targeted archaeological surveys have allowed the compiling of up-to-date results, which are vital to prepare well-conceived restoration activities.

The conservation intervention focused on consolidation and restoration of the ancient masonry and the adjustment of the “voids” left behind from the previous excavations.

The decision was made to give a particular cultural mark to our intervention, and to improve the site’s profile by reconstructing of the church’s volumes, naturally defined in the planimetric mapping and size, on the basis of strictly philological canons.

Thanks to the creative spirit of artist Edoardo Tresoldi, who created a metal grid permanent installation, the resulting masterpiece conveys the idea of a third dimension, allowing the public to envision the layout of the basilica and reducing the impact between the “new” basilica and the Romanesque church on the other side. The intervention was carried out on protective surfaces placed above the ancient structures, that have shielded the integrity of the wall crests and made sure that the securing process of the installation did not damage the archaeological monument in any way, while also ensuring the reversibility of the intervention.