The lighting refurbishment of places of worship: The case study of the Church of “Santa Maria di Piedigrotta”

Christian church buildings constitute most of the architectural heritage in Italy. In this paper, the case study of the exterior lighting renewal of the Church of “Santa Maria di Piedigrotta”, located in Napoli, is discussed. The lighting project was carried out with the goal of emphasizing the original hierarchies of the building details, that can often be difficult to understand with the current lighting system. The study started with the analysis of the architectural features of the facades and belfry as well as the existing lighting system. In order to allow for the comparison and optimization of the various lighting design solutions, a virtual model of the church was realized in the simulation software DIALuxEvo. In the most suitable concept, both diffused and accent lighting were integrated, allowing for a correct perception of the whole of the facades of Church, thus highlighting its most valuable elements. The results obtained have responded positively to the enhancement and conservation of the historical-artistic works, while also resulting in energy saving. Moreover, the Standards of Law restrictions on “light pollution towards the sky” for historical and monumental buildings have been respected.