Site characterization and preliminary ground response analysis for the monumental Complex of SS. Annunziata in Sulmona, Italy

The historical building Complex of the SS. Annunziata in Sulmona (L’Aquila, Italy), consists of a church and an adjoining building. It overlooks the square of the same name along the main street of the historic centre of the town. SS. Annunziata is considered the most important historical monument in Sulmona, not only for its huge artistic and architectural value, but also for the special significance it had in the social and political life of the city. The construction of the Complex started in the 14th century and continued for centuries. The long building duration led the Complex to take on its current appearance characterized by different architectural styles: Late Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. As a result of earthquakes that affected the area, the various buildings that are (or were) part of the monumental Complex suffered damage (perhaps in 1349, 1456 and certainly in 1706) and underwent major reconstruction works. Significant damage was also caused to the structures of the SS. Annunziata Complex by the earthquakes that struck the central Apennines in the 20th century (i.e. 1915 and 1933) and by the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake. After this latter, the damage observed to the rear of the buildings in the monumental Complex was more severe than those of the front. To verify whether the subsoil local conditions can explain the distribution of the observed damage, studies of ground response have been planned at the site where SS. Annunziata Complex is located. This work presents the preliminary results of the case study. After a general overview of the Sulmona basin and the SS. Annunziata Complex, the results of the survey carried out in the study area are described and analyzed, aimed at defining the geotechnical model. The results of numerical 1D analyses performed on soil profiles, representative of the subsoil conditions both at the front and back of the historical Complex, are also presented and compared.