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Evaluation of Damages to the Architectural Heritage of Naples as a Result of the Strongest Earthquakes of the Southern Apennines
Author(s)
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
/10(2020)
Publisher
MDPI
Pages (printed)
6880
Issued date
October 1, 2020
Abstract
The city of Naples (Campanian region, Southern Italy) has been hit by the strongest
earthquakes located inside the seismogenic areas of the Southern Apennines, as well as by
the volcano-tectonic earthquakes of the surrounding areas of the Campi Flegrei, Ischia and
Vesuvius volcanic districts. An analysis of the available seismic catalogues shows that in the
last millennium, more than 100 earthquakes have struck Naples with intensities rating I to III on
the Mercalli–Cancani–Sieberg (MCS) scale over the felt level. Ten of these events have exceeded the
damage level, with a few of these possessing an intensity greater than VII MCS. The catastrophic
earthquakes of 1456 (I0 = XI MCS), 1688 (I0 = XI MCS) and 1805 (I0 = X MCS) occurred in the
Campania–Molise Apennines chain, produced devastating e ects on the urban heritage of the city
of Naples, reaching levels of damage equal to VIII MCS. In the 20th century, the city of Naples was
hit by three strong earthquakes in 1930 (I0 = X MCS), 1962 (I0 = IX MCS) and 1980 (I0 = X MCS),
all with epicenters in the Campania and Basilicata regions. The last one is still deeply engraved
in the collective memory, having led to the deaths of nearly 3000 individuals and resulted in the
near-total destruction of some Apennine villages. Moreover, the city of Naples has also been hit by
ancient historical earthquakes that originated in the Campanian volcanic districts of Campi Flegrei,
Vesuvio and Ischia, with intensities up to VII–VIII MCS (highest in the Vesuvian area). Based on
the intensity and frequency of its past earthquakes, the city of Naples is currently classified in the
second seismic category, meaning that it is characterized by “seismicity of medium energy”. In this
paper, we determine the level of damage su ered by Naples and its monuments as a result of the
strongest earthquakes that have hit the city throughout history, highlighting its repetitiveness in
some areas. To this aim, we reconstructed the seismic history of some of the most representative
urban monuments, using documentary and historical sources data related to the e ects of strong
earthquakes of the Southern Apennines on the city of Naples. The ultimate purpose of this study is to
perform a seismic macro-zoning of the ancient center of city and reduce seismic risk. Our contribution
represents an original elaboration on the existing literature by creating a damage-density map of the
strongest earthquakes and highlighting, for the first time, the areas of the city of Naples that are most
vulnerable to strong earthquakes in the future. These data could be of fundamental importance to
the construction of detailed maps of seismic microzones. Our study contributes to the mitigation of
seismic risk in the city of Naples, and provides useful advice that can be used to protect the historical
heritage of Naples, whose historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
earthquakes located inside the seismogenic areas of the Southern Apennines, as well as by
the volcano-tectonic earthquakes of the surrounding areas of the Campi Flegrei, Ischia and
Vesuvius volcanic districts. An analysis of the available seismic catalogues shows that in the
last millennium, more than 100 earthquakes have struck Naples with intensities rating I to III on
the Mercalli–Cancani–Sieberg (MCS) scale over the felt level. Ten of these events have exceeded the
damage level, with a few of these possessing an intensity greater than VII MCS. The catastrophic
earthquakes of 1456 (I0 = XI MCS), 1688 (I0 = XI MCS) and 1805 (I0 = X MCS) occurred in the
Campania–Molise Apennines chain, produced devastating e ects on the urban heritage of the city
of Naples, reaching levels of damage equal to VIII MCS. In the 20th century, the city of Naples was
hit by three strong earthquakes in 1930 (I0 = X MCS), 1962 (I0 = IX MCS) and 1980 (I0 = X MCS),
all with epicenters in the Campania and Basilicata regions. The last one is still deeply engraved
in the collective memory, having led to the deaths of nearly 3000 individuals and resulted in the
near-total destruction of some Apennine villages. Moreover, the city of Naples has also been hit by
ancient historical earthquakes that originated in the Campanian volcanic districts of Campi Flegrei,
Vesuvio and Ischia, with intensities up to VII–VIII MCS (highest in the Vesuvian area). Based on
the intensity and frequency of its past earthquakes, the city of Naples is currently classified in the
second seismic category, meaning that it is characterized by “seismicity of medium energy”. In this
paper, we determine the level of damage su ered by Naples and its monuments as a result of the
strongest earthquakes that have hit the city throughout history, highlighting its repetitiveness in
some areas. To this aim, we reconstructed the seismic history of some of the most representative
urban monuments, using documentary and historical sources data related to the e ects of strong
earthquakes of the Southern Apennines on the city of Naples. The ultimate purpose of this study is to
perform a seismic macro-zoning of the ancient center of city and reduce seismic risk. Our contribution
represents an original elaboration on the existing literature by creating a damage-density map of the
strongest earthquakes and highlighting, for the first time, the areas of the city of Naples that are most
vulnerable to strong earthquakes in the future. These data could be of fundamental importance to
the construction of detailed maps of seismic microzones. Our study contributes to the mitigation of
seismic risk in the city of Naples, and provides useful advice that can be used to protect the historical
heritage of Naples, whose historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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