Compatible rehabilitation of the Sicilian rural architecture: the case study of "Calcibaida" in Caltavuturo

Abstract

The Sicilian common typological form of rural estate is the masseria, typical of the latifundium. More particularly, it is a large fortified farm built to control and manage a vast land-property, the old fiefdoms. This paper will analyse the masseria Calcibaida as an eminent example of the mentioned Sicilian rural world. Calcibaida is located in the territory of Caltavuturo, in the centre of Sicily, within the mountain landscape of the Madonie mountains. The complex consists of a compact aggregate of buildings with an internal courtyard and a close large warehouse, further embellished by a fine drinking trough. The typological characteristics, materials and construction technologies of the historical farm will be described as well as identifying the main masonry degradations and instabilities. The collected data will constitute a typological atlas of the traditional rural architecture. Finally, we will analyse how those traditional constructions may be re-functionalized and re-used.