Characterisation of the materials used in the construction of the Noto Cathedral

Abstract After the partial collapse of the Cathedral of Noto, the authors were required to carry out an extensive on site and laboratory investigation in order to support the designers of the Cathedral reconstruction to check the possibility of preserving the parts which are still standing and to choose the right solutions and the most compatible materials for the reconstruction. The tests carried out in laboratory in order to characterise the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of the original materials are described and their results discussed.