STRUCTURAL RESTORATION OF THE ROOF OF THE CHURCH OF SANT’ELISABETTA IN MENAROLA MUNICIPALITY OF GORDONA (SO)

The Parish Church of Sant’Elisabetta, located in the mountain hamlet of Menarola, in the municipality of Gordona (SO), is at the center of an important structural and conservative restoration intervention on the roof. Immersed in the greenery of the mountains and overlooking a suggestive Alpine panorama, the church has represented a spiritual and cultural point of reference for the local community for centuries.

During 2023, the Foppoli Moretta e Associati studio was commissioned to carry out technical and structural investigations as part of the restoration project of the roofs of the Presbytery, the Sacristy and the side chapels, in addition to the safety of some portions of the adjacent building, known as the "Ex Scuola dei Napoletani".
The diagnostic investigations carried out on site included tests with single and double flat jacks to assess the stress state and classification of the walls; penetrometric tests for the mechanical characterization of the mortars; sonic tests for the non-destructive analysis of the wall structures and finally investigations on the wooden elements using Resistograph, a useful tool for identifying any areas of degradation of the wooden beams.

The architectural and executive project was developed in collaboration with the architect Patrizia Sichera, while the structural works management was followed directly by the Foppoli Moretta e Associati studio. This intervention represented an important step for the protection of the historical and religious heritage of the valley, with the aim of preserving its architectural value and strengthening its role in the life of the community.