First module, 150 hours
The first module will begin with a short introduction period to be held in the laboratory of the University of Tuscia and will be followed by practical exercise to be carried out on the cosmatesque mosaics of the former church of San Domenico in Narni (TR).
In the laboratory, with the visual support of Power Point projection, the main topics related to ancient mosaic and its restoration will be addressed such as: execution technique, construction materials, ancient mosaic typologies and the construction methods of the tessellatum decorative motifs. The main causes of deterioration, and the maintenance and restoration work carried out in the past, will also be the subject of specific lectures.
This body of knowledge, which will be verified in class discussion during lectures and will be repeatedly taken up throughout the academic year with regard to the different cases addressed, will lead students to engage consciously and circumstantially during the practical exercises.
The organization of the worksite, and thus also the compilation of the list of equipment and materials needed to carry out the work, will be carried out together with the students, who will thus begin to practice the design and scheduling aspect of the work.
The teaching workshop will be carried out, for this 2024 first module, on the cosmatesque mosaic floor of the right-side aisle of the Church of San Domenico in Narni. The mosaic, in addition to having probably undergone transport in rather remote times, presents evidence of many integration and maintenance interventions that make it a particularly interesting object for the study of the conservation history of a work of art, as well as an excellent case for studying condition and deterioration causes.
The exercise will begin with the study of marbles and stones used to construct the tessellatum and then the recognition and cataloging of the different lithotypes present. Direct observation will also lead to the identification and documentation of the state of conservation of the mosaic, both structurally and in terms of surface condition. We will then proceed with the stabilization of the tessellatum at its most fragile areas, taking into account the particularly busy environment where the work is preserved. During on-site activities, the reasons for the adopted intervention methodology and the possible solutions for protecting this mosaic will be discussed.
Finally, during the module, a visit to one or more churches with cosmatesque mosaics in the area of Upper Latium and Umbria will be scheduled for comparisons and further study of the technique and history of cosmatesque mosaics.

Second module, 150 hours
The second module will be held by Dr. Francesca Mariani on the subject of restoration of ancient mosaic preserved in situ at the archaeological site (see Dr. Mariani teaching records)

Third module, 150 hours.
The third module will be held at the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome, for the restoration of the vault of the Andersen burial. This small mosaic of the modern period may be an opportunity to approach the problems of the glass paste tesserae wall mosaic, which due to its characteristics will be an opportunity for further studies on the execution techniques and materials used for mosaic. State of conservation and deterioration causes of a modern artwork can also be the occasion to broaden the field of students' discussions and knowledge.
The exercise will involve operations such as cleaning, re-bedding movable tesserae and lacunae reintegration. During the intervention, the opportunity to treat deteriorated terracotta materials inserted in the mosaic decoration of this funerary monument will also occur.
The module will also include some classroom lectures on Byzantine wall mosaic concerning execution technique, deterioration, and intervention methodology.

Nessun testo sul restauro del mosaico è adottato come testo del corso. Per i vari argomenti che trattano i diversi aspetti della conservazione di questo manufatto, sia antico che moderno, pavimentale o parietale, si fa riferimento alla bibliografia che segue.