The villa commissioned by silk industrialist Davide Bernasconi in Cernobbio stands as one of the main examples of Art Nouveau style on Lake Como. From a historical-critical and attributive standpoint, due to the lack of documentation and research related to the design of the decorative apparatus and to the craftsmen involved in its realization, as well as studies related to the original image of the interiors, since all furnishings have been lost, our documentary research has wide margins yet to be explored. Through an analysis conducted on archival and bibliographical sources, the first part of the essay examines little-explored aspects related to the artistic and craftsmanship-related contributions used as part of the realization of the villa. Some issues related to the process of conservation and enhancement of the cultural heritage site are subsequently dealt with by illustrating the restoration works carried out in recent decades and the activities undertaken to improve the public use of the villa following its acquisition by the Municipality of Cernobbio. Thus, and on the one hand, a methodological evaluation of the restoration interventions was developed, and, on the other hand, the role of Villa Bernasconi was analysed within the spectrum of some broader territorial planning. Assuming that the Art-Nouveau Gesamtkunstwerk should inevitably guide any restoration that respects both architectural history and constituent principles of a building, the case of Villa Bernasconi ultimately calls for some reflection on both the Turin Declaration and the need to define a set of specific criteria aimed at the preservation of Art Nouveau architectural heritage. .
Dominique Vivant Denon's diary is dedicated to the itinerary of the places traversed in Calabria between 1777 and 1778, as part of the expedition organized by Abb & eacute; Saint-Non. This diary was only reproduced in its entirety and returned to its peculiar narrative value in the Notes of the second and fourth volumes of the Voyage de Henri Swinburne dans les Deux Siciles, published in 1785 and 1786. Precisely in consideration of this testimonial value, the research revisited the diary in its original form and function as a daily narrative, where his impressions of the places, landscapes, and cities visited during the journey through Calabria emerge. Denon was disappointed by was disappointed to discover that no ancient monuments remained in Calabria and showed little interest in the urban centers he visited. Conversely, he was impressed by the variety and natural exuberance of the Calabrian landscapes. In this regard, the sketches made on site by Desprez play an essential role; in the immediacy of their graphic style, they convey the initial visual suggestions. This is in contrast to the final views in the Voyage pittoresque, the result of the recomposition and re-elaboration of the sketches and preparatory drawings, where the images fixed often transfigure the reality of the places.
Architectural drawings are documents, evidence of a specific moment in the history of a monument, providing information about the architects and clients. They are material evidence both of the representation of what exists and of the definition of the author's design. Interest in architectural drawings runs deep and has developed in recent decades thanks to specific studies, exhibitions and catalogues. In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in Southern Italy in modern drawings. The graphic collection shows a varied panorama that reflects the peculiarities of a complex and diverse territory and, for these reasons, testifies the identifying characteristics of different territorial areas. On this occasion, some illustrative examples from Basilicata and Salento were considered, regarded as models of a heritage that still appears discontinuous and uneven. The research starts from the identification of drawings as records of pre-existing structures, transformations of buildings and new designs, but also architectural and furnishing details that may be part of contracts, in which the drawing (where still extant) is often a fundamental part of the notarial document. Documents and drawings show the scope and timing of the project but, at the same time, reveal the specific characteristics of the client's requests and the author of the drawing: their training, the geographical area and relationship with the client.
The article provides a brief account of the research and consequent publications that in the decade 2014-2023, sometimes taking a cue from or in continuation of scholarly initiatives launched in previous years, concerned urban and architectural issues of the Napoleonic era, chronologically identifiable in the time span between the Italian Campaign (1796-1797) and the "Hundred Days" (1815). Without any pretense of completeness, since the topic, as a result of the bicentennial of Napoleon Bonaparte's death celebrated in 2021, has taken on international resonance and interdisciplinary connections, the contribution selects some of the main lines of advancement of such research, divided into three distinct, albeit related, themes: architects, cities and civil architecture, court residences.
This essay examines early medieval fortifications in Sicily, focusing on the strategic logic that shaped the distribution, typology, and evolution of "strong places" within the Valdemone region. Defensive structures were not only military responses but also components of a broader socio-territorial system enabling communities to shelter people, resources, and livestock during prolonged sieges. Because written sources are fragmentary, the study integrates textual evidence with geomorphological analysis, visibility relationships, and the reconstruction of medieval road networks. Archaeological data reveal long-term continuity from late Roman settlements to fortified medieval sites, though research has historically privileged religious architecture over military structures. The essay reassesses Byzantine and Islamic phases of fortification, drawing on Arab chroniclers who describe extensive defensive programs across Sicily. By comparing known sites with those only cited in sources, the study proposes new hypotheses for the locations of Miqus and Demenna, highlighting their strategic control of river valleys, mountain passes, and visual communication lines linking Rometta, Taormina, Aci, and other strongholds. Drone surveys and modern remote-sensing techniques have uncovered alignment patterns and buried structures supporting these hypotheses. Ultimately, the work argues that a network of intervisible fortifications, integrated with natural defenses and essential resources, structured the defensive landscape of early medieval Sicily. Combining textual, archaeological, and technological approaches offers new perspectives on poorly documented sites and provides a foundation for future targeted excavations.
