RESEARCH, TRADITION AND INNOVATION IN THE DRY-STONE WALLS OF THE SORRENTINE PENINSULA TERRACES. Best practise of protection at the grangia of Crapolla in Vico Equense

The research aimed at deepening the grange of Crapolla in Vico Equense in relation to the drystone walls of its terraces. The interest arose from a chance meeting at this site that occurred between the superintendency’s area official, architect Nicolina Ricciardelli, who is sensitive to the study of products from the local building tradition, and one of the structure’s owners, a representative and manufacturer of building materials., The latter responded to the requests presented by the Superintendency by entrusting the CITTAM interdepartmental centre of the Federico II University of Naples with a study on new finishing products to be applied for the recovery of the building’s envelope and the terraced area of the grange, cultivated with vineyards. The focus is devoted to the historical events, the relationship with the land, the products cultivated, the construction techniques of the dry-stone walls for the terracing, their impact on the landscape and their influence on the crops planted. To date, the research, also enriched by the studies of degree thesis of Dr. Noemi Alifano, can present the results of the studies together with the positive feedback of the good practices carried out by the owners. Terracing with dry-stone walls becomes the flywheel of an economic, environmental and agri-food sustainability that can be implemented and pursued over time.