Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Geo-heritage Tour Across the Ornamental Stone of the Historic Centre of Ivrea, UNESCO World Heritage Site (Piedmont region, NW Italy)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Geoheritage Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ivrea, the ancient Eporedia founded around 100–101 B.C. by the Romans and UNESCO site from 2018 is a town where stone has always been the most widely used building material, characterizing the architectural identity of the city. In particular, numerous rocks were still visible in the ancient buildings of the historic centre. For this reason, Ivrea was chosen as place on which developing an informative proposal, of geological interest for the conservation of Cultural Heritage.

A minero-petrographic study was carried out to identify the different stone materials and their provenance areas used. The origin of rock samples resulted essentially from local or nearby geological units. The most used stones were diorite, tonalite and gabbro and of the Ivrea Verbano Mafic Complex, which crops out in the city of Ivrea itself. Other rocks used were permian granites intruded into the basement of the Serie dei Laghi, syenite and diorite from Oligocenic pluton of Sesia Zone, jadeite orthogneiss and micaschists from the Eclogitic Micaschist Complex of the Sesia Zone; calcschists and Bardiglio Marble from the Piemonte Zone and Serizzo othogneiss from the Antigorio unit of Ossola Valley. In lower quantities, rocks from both extra-regional Italian areas (some carbonate rocks from Southern Alps and the Northern Apennines) and foreign countries (Scandinavian granites) were also used. The data collected were managed through digital systems using geomatics techniques and the results consists of an interactive web site that can be used by a wide audience. It can be visited through any mobile or fixed device at the following link: http://www.geositlab.unito.it/ivrea.The site consists of 13 historical sites of interest in each of which ornamental stones of historical and scientific interest can be observed in detail.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barale L, Borghi A, d’Atri A, Gambino F, Piana F (2020) Ornamental stones of Piemonte (NW Italy): an updated geo-lithological map. J Map 16:867–878. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2020.1837685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biino G, Compagnoni R (1989) The Canavese Zone between the Serra d’Ivrea and the Dora Baltea River Western Alps. Eclogae Geol Helvetiae 82:413–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Borghi A, Compagnoni R, Naldi M (1996) The crystalline basement of the Canavese Zone (Internal Western Alps): new data from the area west of Ivrea (Northern Italy). Geol Alp 72:23–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Borghi A, d’Atri A, Martire L, Castelli D, Costa E, Dino G, Favero Longo SE, Ferrando S, Gallo LM, Giardino M, Groppo C, Piervittori R, Rolfo F, Rossetti P, Vaggelli G (2014) Fragments of the Western Alpine Chain as historic ornamental stones in Turin (Italy): a new geotouristic approach for the enhancement of urban geological heritage. Geoheritage 6:41–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-013-0091-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borghi A, Fiora L, Zoja A (2006) The grey marble of Porta Praetoria (Aosta, Italy): a minero-petrographic characterisation and provenance determination. Period Mineral LXXXVI:59–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Boriani A, Caironi V, Giobbi Origoni E, Vannucci R (1992) The Permian intrusive rocks of the Serie dei Laghi (Western Southern Alps). Acta Vulcanol 2:73–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Bottino G, Del Greco O, Fornaro M, Monetti G (1989) Studi per la valorizzazione di giacimenti della Pietra Verde Argento nella Valle della Dora Baltea. Atti Conv. Int. “Situazione e prospettive dell’industria lapidea”, Cagliari, 3-5 aprile 1989, 99-104

  • Compagnoni R (1977) The Sesia Lanzo Zone: High pressure - low temperature metamorphism in the Austroalpine continental margin. Rend. Soc Italiana Mineral Petrol 33:335–331

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper BJ (2015) The ‘Global Heritage Stone Resource’ designation: past, present and future. In: Pereira D, Marker BR, Kramar S, Cooper BJ, Schouenborg BE, eds., Global Heritage stone: towards international recognition of building and ornamental stones: Geological Society, London, Special Publications 407:11-20.

  • Dal Piaz GV (1992) Le Alpi dal Monte Bianco al Lago Maggiore. Soc Geol It BE-MA ed., I, pp. 311.

  • Dal Piaz GV (1999) The Austroalpine-Piedmont nappe stack and the puzzle of Alpine Tethys: Memorie di Scienze Geologiche (Padova) 51:155-176.

  • Dal Piaz GV, Bistacchi A, Massironi M (2003) Geological outline of the Alps. Episodes 26:175–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Giusti F, Dal Piaz GV, Massironi M, Schiavo A (2004) Carta geotettonica della Valle d’Aosta. Memorie Sci Geol 55:129–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrando S, Bernoulli D, Compagnoni R (2004) The Canavese zone (Internal Western Alps): a distal margin of Adria. Schweiz Mineral Petrograph Mitteilungen 84:237–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Festa A, Balestro G, Borghi A, De Caroli S, Succo A (2020) The role of structural inheritance in continental break-up and exhumation of Alpine Tethyan mantle (Canavese Zone, Western Alps). Geosci Front 11:167–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2018.11.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gambino F, Borghi A, d’Atri A, Gallo LM, Ghiraldi L, Giardino M, Martire L, Palomba M, Perotti L, Macadam J (2019) TOURinSTONES: a free mobile application for promoting geological heritage in the city of Torino (NW Italy). Geoheritage 11:3–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-017-0277-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giampaolo C, Lombardi G, Mariottini M (2008) Pietre e costruito nella città di Roma: dall’antichità ai giorni nostri. In: La geologia di Roma dal centro storico alla periferia, Funiciello, Praturlon, Giordano (Eds.) Mem Descr Carta Geol It 80:273–406.

  • Gianotti F, Forno MG, Ivy-Ochs S, Kubik PW (2008) New chronological and stratigraphical data on the Ivrea Amphitheatre (Piedmont, NW Italy). Quat Int 190:123–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2008.03.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handy MR, Franz L, Heller F, Janott B, Zurbriggen R (1999) Multistage accretion and exumation of the continental crust (Ivrea crustal section, Italy and Switzerland). Tectonics 18:1154–1177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handy MR, Zingg A (1991) The tectonic and rheological evolution of an attenuated crosssection of the continental crust: Ivrea crustal section, southern Alps, northwestern Italy and southern Switzerland. Geol Soc Am Bull 103:236–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klotzli S, Sinigoi S, Quick JE, Demarchi G, Colombo C, Tassinari G, Sato K, Gunes Z (2014) Duration of igneous activity in the Sesia Magmatic System and implication for high-temperature metamorphism in the Ivrea-Verbano deep crust. Lithos 206-207:19–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2014.07.020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lezzerini M, Pagnotta S, Legnaioli S, Palleschi V (2019) Walking in the streets of Pisa to discover the stones used in the Middle Ages. Geoheritage 11:1631–1641. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-019-00372-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lozar F, Giardino M, Magagna A, Palomba M, Selvaggio I (2019) The virtuous integration of Geoscience research and educational projects: examples from the Piemonte region. Rendiconti Online Soc Geol It 49:69–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Mannoni T, Pfeifer HR, Serneels V (1987) Giacimenti e cave di pietra ollare nelle Alpi, in: La pietra ollare dalla preistoria all’età moderna, Atti del convegno Archeologia dell’Italia settentrionale, Como, 16-17 ottobre 1987, 7-45.

  • Pecchioni E, Cantisani E, Fratini F (2012) The city of Florence: an openair lithology museum. In: The Museum of Natural History of Florence v. IV, by G Pratesi, Firenze University Press (Ed), 245–268.

  • Perinetti F, (1965) Ivrea Romana. Rivarolo Canavese, (Torino), p. 247.

  • Punturo R, Russi LG, Giudice AL, Mazzoleni P, Pezzino A (2006) Building stone employed in the historical monuments of Eastern Sicily (Italy). An example: the ancient city centre of Catania. Environ Geol 50:156–169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0195-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quick JE, Denlinger RP (1992) The possible role of ductile deformation in the formation of layered gabbros in ophiolites. Ofioliti 17:249–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Quick JE, Sinigoi S, Mayer S (1994) Emplacement dynamics of a large mafic intrusion in the lower crust, Ivrea Verbano Zone. J Geophys Res 99:21559–21573. https://doi.org/10.1029/94JB00113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandrone R, Colombo A, Fiora L, Fornaro M, Lovera E, Tunesi A, Cavallo A (2004a) Contemporary natural stones from the Italian Western Alps (Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions). Period di Mineral 73:211–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandrone R, Colombo A, Fiora L, Fornaro M, Lovera E, Tunesi A, Cavallo A (2004b) Contemporary natural stones form the Italian western Alps (Piedmont and Aosta Valley Regions). Per Mineral 73:211–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Santi P, Tramontana M, Tonelli G, Renzulli A, Veneri F (2021) The Historic Centre of Urbino, UNESCO World Heritage (Marche Region, Italy): an Urban-Geological Itinerary Across the Building and Ornamental Stones. Geoheritage 13:86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-021-00606-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt SM, Fugenschuh B, Kissling E, Schuster R (2004) Tectonic map and overall architecture of the Alpine orogen. Eclogae Geol Helv 97:93–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-004-1113-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selonen O, Suominen V (eds): Nordic Stone 2003. UNESCO Publishing (Geologic Science Series), Paris, France, 64.

  • Torre LF, Dino GA, Torre A, Dino M (2020) Una passeggiata in un “borgo di pietra” nelle Madonie – Geotour urbano a Petralia Sottana (PA). Pangea 3:13–25

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO, 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Paris, 16 november 1972

  • Vernia L (2014) Le pietre della città di Reggio Emilia. Il Geologo E-R 52:34–42

  • Von Raumer JF (1987) Les massifs du Mont Blanc et des Aiguille Rouges: temoins de la deformation de croute varisique dans les Alpes occidentales. Geol Alp 63:7–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Wozniak J (1977) Contribution à l’étude géologique des Alpes occidentales internes: la région du Canavese (Piemont, Italie). Pétrographie. Université Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris VI, 1977. Francais.

  • Zingg A, Handy MR, Hunziker JC, Schmid SM (1990) Tectonometamorphic history of the Ivrea Zone and its relationship to the crustal evolution of the Southern Alps. Tectonophysics 182:169–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1951(90)90349-D

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The research was supported by the University of Torino (ex 60% funds). It was carried out in the framework of GeoDIVE Project, funded by Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation and University of Torino.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torin, Italy

    Giorgia Parmeggiani, Anna d’Atri & Alessandro Borghi

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torin, Italy

    Luigi Perotti

Authors
  1. Giorgia Parmeggiani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anna d’Atri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Luigi Perotti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alessandro Borghi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Giorgia Parmeggiani and Lugi Perotti. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Giorgia Parmeggiani, review and editing by Alessandro Borghi and Anna d’Atri. Supervision: Alessandro Borghi. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alessandro Borghi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Supplementary information

ESM 1

(PDF 116 kb)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Parmeggiani, G., d’Atri, A., Perotti, L. et al. Geo-heritage Tour Across the Ornamental Stone of the Historic Centre of Ivrea, UNESCO World Heritage Site (Piedmont region, NW Italy). Geoheritage 15, 70 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00836-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00836-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation