L'Architettura eremitica in Costiera Amalfitana. Specificità e problemi di conservazione

The objective of this research work is the study of the hermitages in the Amalfi Coast , of which has analyzed the historical and cultural value considering the peculiarities in relation to conservation and restoration problems. The Amalfi Coast (the Amalfi side of the Sorrento-Amalfi peninsula, coinciding with the ancient Duchy) constituted the meeting place between two great monastic conceptions of the Middle Ages: the eastern monasticism or greek, ascetic, and the Western, or Latin, coenobitic . The ascetic aspiration came to fruition in the establishment of hermit settlements throughout the territory of Amalfi. Are attributable to the eastern period the Hermitage of S. Maria de Olearia in Maiori, one of St. Catherine in Tramonti, the Abbey of St. Peter on the Crapolla fjord and just outside the borders of the Duchy, that of S. Liberatore (today in the town of Cava de ' Tirreni) . Related to the phenomenon of asceticism is the Hermitage of Our Lady dell'Avvocata (Maiori), although its foundation happened later. Another significant event was the greek eremiticism transformation of natural caves and caverns in places of worship (laure), initially reserved for ascetics and, at a later time, open to the devotion of the community: the Cave of the Saints in Atrani, the Cave of St. Barbara in Agerola, the Cave of the SS. Trinity in Tovere resort of Amalfi and the Cave of St. Barbara in Agerola. Later is the Cave of Annunziata in Minori, included in the present treatment. For these architectures the research has dealt with an historical and archival examination and an analysis of materials used and of the typological and constructive characteristics. Then was flanked the analysis of the hermitages in the landscape, the Amalfi side of the Sorrento-Amalfi peninsula, and which were analyzed the issues to accessibility and the potential of a possible restoration.