Strategie di valorizzazione del patrimonio culturale “minore”. Analisi, rilievo e riconfigurazione digitale dell’Abbazia di San Nicola di Casola in Otranto, ponte tra Oriente e Occidente

This contribution inserts in the scope of the historical heritage research activities which we may consider as minor i.e., according to a non-reductive meaning, less studied and known. It is part of a wider research financed by the European Union- Next Generation EU, CUP J53D23013280001 in PRIN2022JPNKZ4 - SPLASCH │ Smart PLatform and Applications for Southern Cultural Heritage scope, finalized to the research of a wide sampling of assets among which get interest also the wide typological area of the rural architecture. This thematic has been proposed by the study case relative to the activity of analysis and digital reconstruction of the Saint Nicola’s Abbay of Casole, in Otranto, today appreciable only in some surviving wall portions. The structure has been modified over the centuries. There are 5 principal stages which can be traceable, from the XI to the XVII century. From a historical architectonic point of view, the Saint Nicola’s Abbey of Casole is one of the most important italo-greek cenobitic centre of Apulia, built in the medieval era. The Abbey is considered a very important example of roman-gotic architecture of the Otranto Land seat of a scriptorium and a prestigious library. Of fondamental importance is his geografic position, in the easter point of Italy, that has allowed artistic, cultural and religious changes between east and west. Through a careful survey of the surviving layouts, supplemented by the analysis, superimposition and critical reading of the morpho-architectural data acquired, also supported by the comparison of the few documentable sources available, it was possible to reconstruct the architectural layout according to the main historical stratifications and restore, in its last known configuration, the abbey’s identity value to the city of Otranto.