The ‘false vaults’ in the architecture of Sicily

Between the end of the 17th century and the first decades of the 18th, Sicily was struck by several violent earthquakes. The total and partial collapse of monumental buildings produced a global debate involving various aspects of construction practice. One of the central topics of discussion was the construction of domes and large vaulted structures. Some architects studied the possibility of using so-called ‘false vaults’, a kind of lightweight structure created with a wooden frame, reed mats, and plaster. The technique was probably known by the 16th century and was used in a few major monuments, such as the dome of the Palermo Cathedral, in the mid-17th century. It was only after the Earthquake of 1726 in Palermo that large vaulted structures were extensively built with this technique in important churches. One of the most significant examples, documented by technical drawings as well as archival records, is the church of Santa Chiara in Noto, designed by the architect Rosario Gagliardi. The use of ‘false vaults’ as a preventative measure against seismic damage is well documented in many other monuments. The direct analysis of built structures and new documentary evidence allows for the verification of recent theories. The paper focus on the construction techniques used in a few selected cases and takes into consideration the influences of widely available texts on architectural theory and practice as well as local building experiences on the genesis of the building process.