Intervention

The conservation work took place between February 1997 and February 1998, with a period of workshop activity of about 13 months.

The work consisted of two phases, first the work on the upper part of the Tower, between February and August 1997, and second in the bulwark, between September 1997 and February 1998.

The total works including the survey and conservation represented approximately forty thousand hours.

The accomplishment of the technical objectives, including modifications where necessary due to different situations, was made possible by a group of technicians of different specialities who developed the conservation

practices, and provided continuous technical and scientific support.

Their objectives were achieved because of their professionalism, mental attitude and manual skills.

24 technicians participated in the various operational phases developed in the workshop during 13 months, and on average 18 were always present.

After the first phase of training, during which technicians did change, with some brief trips away from the workshop, the main group remained practically unaltered until the work was complete.

The technicians came from different specialisations. 80% had been trained in conservation and restoration, and of these 60% had been trained in the area of rock and stone.

The main group of professionals were:

8 Restorers;
10 Specialised technical operators;
6 General technical operators;
2 Stonemasons;
1 Photographer;
2 Graphic artists;
1 Designer.

The work teams were organised as interchangeable groups, and depended on the phase according to the four major categories of activities:

treatment of joints;
cleaning phases;
structural and consolidation work;
other treatments and finishing.

We are aware that the work resulted from following well defined conservation practice and the availability of technical knowledge.

The final result is dependent on the choices made, based on the available knowledge at the time.

We used a suitable control and maintenance program to achieve the final result on time.

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