Design on Archaeological Sites between Enhancement and Conservation. The Museographic Project of the Acropolis of Mount Filerimos (Rhodes)

Abstract

The current appearance of the archaeological area of Mount Filerimos, in the island of Rhodes, is the result of design by Rodolfo Petracco, made during the Italian occupation of Dodecanese. The site, formerly the acropolis of the ancient Ialysos, has many stratifications: a pre-hellenic cult is attested since IX cent. B.C., while the remains of architectural structures are dated between the VI cent. B.C. and 1930s, when the re-built church of "Our Lady" was enlarged with the monastery. Purpose of the project illustrated in this paper is to improve the physical and cultural use of the site and facilitate its conservation, through a more appropriate use of the architectural structures. The project, based mainly on historical knowledge and on the critical reading of the archaeological site, includes two different forms of museography. An "open-air" museum, designed to ensure accessibility to different categories of users, allows to visit the main archaeological remains with safety for users protecting the structures. The new access walkway to the church replaces the current and precarious path on the east foundation of the late-classic temple of Athena. Part of the design is the lapidarium set up with Early Christian and Byzantine architectural fragments. It is located close to the structures of the multilayered Church, to emphasize the connection between exposure and environmental context. The typological exhibition promotes understanding by the visitor and, at same time, the conservation of the blocks. A "traditional" archaeological museum is set up with the votive offerings to the ancient deity of the acropolis, which are preserved at the moment in the city of Rhodes. The exhibition is located in the monastic structures, strongly degraded after almost a century of abandonment. The new use of the monastery doesn’t alter its original image, respects the architectural character of the building and preserves, where is possible, its furnishings.