The fortress of Arquata del Tronto: symbol of rebirth for the Marche Region affected by the earthquakeThe Fortress of Arquata del Tronto in the Marche region is an imposing structure that rises on the crag to the north of the historic center. It represents a typical example of military architecture in the Apennines Area. Its foundation is between the eleventh and the twelfth century, an initial phase of embankment which undergoes a gradual and progressive increase in structures to enhance the functionality of the fortress. The city of Ascoli Piceno, worried about consolidating the defense outposts located at its borders, soon took possession of it. From the thirteenth to the sixteenth century, the Rocca lived alternate events, clashing with nearby castles, especially with Norcia. At the end of the eighteenth century, Arquata will be absorbed in the territory of the Clitunno Department, in the ancient Duchy of Spoleto. During this period, it was partially restored, to house a stable military garrison, becoming the third fortress of the Trasimeno Department, until it returned under the Papal States. Continuous interventions make the structure suitable for military uses. At the end of the nineteenth century, Giuseppe Sacconi, as director of the Conservation Office in the Marche and Umbria Region, undertook an important restoration. The ruins of the fortress were reconfigured according to medieval forms, taken by analogy from the repertoire of fortifications in the Apennine area. A further conservative intervention was carried out in 1990 to allow a new use. Unfortunately, the seismic events in 2016-2017 have compromised the Rocca, with large collapses that currently make the complex unusable. The intention is to undertake new restoration work, setting up a school construction site; this could represent a virtuous example to favor the rebirth of Arquata del Tronto, so strongly hit by the earthquake, through a project for the enhancement of its architectural heritage.
Sustainable energy is no longer a technological challenge, as many of its aspects have now been analyzed and solved. However, this is not true when looking for sustainable systems that are technologically compatible with the characteristics of the historical city. The research first investigated a specific case study: the historical center of Ascoli Piceno in the Marche Region. The analysis began by estimating the solar radiation and evaluating useful parameters such as the sky view factor and shadows. In order to provide useful services to citizens dealing with the environment and to reduce energy consumption, a web application was developed to identify renewable energy systems that have already been constructed in the municipal area and to assess the benefit of installing pv devices on the roof
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