Diagnostic investigations and installation of monitoring system – Church of S. Maria delle Grazie in Gravedona (CO)

The church, together with the adjoining Augustinian convent, was founded in 1467 by concession of Pope Paul II on the site of an ancient oratory. Construction was supported not only by Duke Gian Galeazzo Sforza but also by devoted citizens and local families from Gravedona, including members of the Stampa family, whose name would later be closely associated with the artistic history of the church. The interior decorative painting began in 1496, as evidenced by the date inscribed above the apse arch.

As part of the conservation and restoration works on the church’s interior surfaces—designed and supervised by architects Roberto Segattini and Matteo Motta, who also carried out the general building survey—several significant cracks were identified in the transverse arches. The diagnostic investigation included close-up inspections of the structures and a series of specialized tests, such as masonry core sampling, video-endoscopic surveys, and single and double flat-jack tests, to study how the piers bear loads and the geometry of the foundations.

Following these analyses, it was deemed necessary to install an automatic monitoring system to track the development of the identified cracks and deformations over time. Wireless instruments were selected for installation, facilitating deployment while minimizing impact on the monument. The system is connected to a remote control station at the offices of Foppoli Moretta and Associati, enabling continuous monitoring of the structural behavior of interest.