La storia dell’architettura medievale nella scuola politecnica torinese: un lascito e una nuova fase

Medieval architecture history at Turin polytechnic school: a legacy and a new phase Medieval Architecture has a long tradition at Politecnico di Torino, were a recognizable school was founded by engineer (and architect) Paolo Verzone, professor for three decades and mentor for many scholars, often then professors in turn. Being first of all a technician, who worked practically in his own native city, both as a respected restorer and a good architect – principally for public building – Verzone preached a constant and accurate material knowledge of the plant, based on an accurate survey, if necessary archaeological recomposition and always to the main attention to all possible documentary sources. His approach, closely related, to his other activity as an archaeologist and founder the Italian Archaeological Mission in Hierapolis of Frigia (Turkey), was inherited by the professor who succeeded him both academically and as the Mission Chief, Daria De Bernardi Ferrero. Both Verzone and De Bernardi assumed relevant roles at Politecnico di Torino, were engaged in the archeological mission and formed a wide class of scholars, dividing the complexity of what we generally define as “Medieval Architecture” in themes, models and influences. The essay tries to deline their magisterium, following in parallel the transformation of the Ministerial teaching protocols, and the formation of a specific – well reputed – “Turin school” in the approach to the history of Medieval Architecture. Teaching data and dates are taken from Politecnico Archives.