San Gemini Preservation Studies

The San Gemini Preservation Studies (SGPS) program is an independent field school that offers educational programs in the disciplines of conservation and historic preservation. Since 2009 it has been a part of the International Institute for Restoration and Preservation Studies (IIRPS) an LLC based in Brooklyn New York, USA.

History

The program was first created in 1999 as a collaboration with the Associazione Valorizzazione del Patrimonio Storico San Gemini (a local association fostering the preservation of cultural heritage in San Gemini) and the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  The program was called the San Gemini Studies Program.  

In 2009, SGPS became an independent field school called San Gemini Preservation Studies, part of the newly founded parent company IIRPS.  In 2010, SGPS operated in collaboration with John Cabot University in Rome and, from 2011, it has operated independently.  In 2017, an ongoing collaboration was established with the Art History Department of West Virginia University in Morgantown (WVU), in which students have the option of receiving university credits by registering for our courses through WVU.

The program began in 1999 with one course and 8 students studying restoration and surveying of historic buildings in San Gemini. Over time we have developed 5 different programs, in different disciplines, with a total of 75 summer students in 2023. All courses are offered in the English language. Most of our students come from the US and Canada but we also have students from many other countries including, Italy, China, the United Kingdom and Australia.

The programs we offer are:

  • Program A: Touching the Stones, Restoration and Analysis of Historic Buildings

  • Program B: Restoration and Analysis of Archaeological Ceramics

  • Program C: Historical Book Binding, Structure and Preservation of Books

  • Program D: Paper Restoration in Artworks and Archival Documents

  • Program E: Traditional Painting Materials, Methods and Restoration Issues

  • Preservation Tour: Siena, Florence and Rome

San Gemini Book & Paper Conservation School

A new professional training program for book, paper, and archival material conservation. This nine-month program (September 16, 2024, to May 23, 2025) aims to give students all the basic skills necessary to be a professional conservator / restorer of books and documents made with paper.

Target audience

Courses are aimed at students of architecture, archaeologists, conservators, librarians, planners, art historians, museum curators, historians, engineers, artists, and other individuals involved in the planning, management, and study of cultural heritage. 

Pedagogic approach

The program has always taken the approach that the best way to teach conservation is to combine theoretical classroom instruction with hands-on instruction in the field or workshop. We also endeavor to interact with the community, organizing our field and laboratory work to highlight and reinforce the local cultural heritage.

Methodological approach to our conservation work

  • Analyze cultural objects, both in their physical, contextual, and historical aspects.

  • Carefully consider the advantages and drawbacks to restoration and whether we have the tools and the time necessary to intervene properly on any object.

  • Use all the current scientific approaches to conservation and restoration.

  • Approach all objects with caution and following all well-established restoration procedures.

  • All conservation work is approved, supervised, and follows the guidelines of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage.

  • Instructors are all very experienced restorers and when dealing with original objects we keep in the laboratories a ratio of instructors to students of 1 to 5.

  • Evaluate strategies for the conservation and maintenance of all restored objects.

  • Work with the local institutions to make sure all objects are maintained in a proper manner.

  • In our fieldwork we follow all Italian laws and regulations regarding safety, construction procedures and historic preservation.

Well established institutional relations

Over the past 25 years our program has established institutional relations and collaborations with various public and private institutions both in the US and Italy. The main local collaboration is with the Associazione Valorizzazione del Patrimonio Storico San Gemini. a local association fostering the preservation of cultural heritage. This organization has supported and facilitated the establishment and the ongoing operation of SGPS in San Gemini. It has created for a friendly and welcoming environment for the organization to flourish in and create a mutually beneficial relation with the community.

Other organizations with whom we have on going relations:

  •   Member of the American Institute of Conservation.

  • West Virginia University in Morgantown, Art History Department.

  • Archaeological excavation of the Public Baths of Carsulae, Dr. Jane Whitehead, Valdosta State University

  • The Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti E Paesaggio Dell'umbria (the regional office of the Italian ministry of cultural heritage that supervises artistic and archaeological heritage)

  • Soprintendenza archivistica e bibliografica dell'Umbria (the regional office of the Italian ministry of cultural heritage that supervises Archives and Libraries)

  • Comune di San Gemini, (Public Administration of the City of San Gemini), TR, Italy

  • Associazione Valorizzazione del Patrimonio Storico San Gemini (local association fostering the preservation of cultural heritage)

  • Parrocchia Ss. Gemine e Giovanni Battista in San Gemini, (The Catholic Parish of San Gemini)

  • Diocesi di Terni Narni e Amelia (Diocese of Terni, Narni and Amelia)

Past and Ongoing Field projects

Architectural projects

  • Survey and Restoration of the façade of the church of San Giovanni Battista, San Gemini 1999-2004

  • Restoration of the façade of the church of Santo Gemine, San Gemini 2005-2010

  • Porta Burgi, San Gemini, restoration 2011-2013

  • Restoration of the façade of the church of San Carlo, San Gemini 2014-2019

  • Porta Tuderte, San Gemini, restoration 2023 to present

Archaeological field projects

  • Archaeological excavation of The Public Baths of Carsulae, Dr. Jane Whitehead of the Valdosta State University 2006-2016

  • Restoration of ceramics from Vicus, Umbria. Drew University 2011

  • Restoration of ceramics from Palatine Hill excavation, University of Rome

  • Restoration of ceramics from Grave goods of Roman tomb in Norcia, Soprintendenza Archeologica del’Umbria 2013

  • Restoration of ceramics from excavation of Carsulae, Dot. Ciotti, Soprintendenza Archeologica del’Umbria 2014

  • Restoration of ceramics from various graves in Abruzzo, Soprintendenza Archeologica dell’Abruzzo 2018

  • Restoration of ceramics from Porano Soprintendenza Archeologica del’Umbria 2022

  • Restoration of ceramics from Colosseum, Archaeological Park of The Colosseum, Rome 2022

  • Restoration of ceramics from Temple of Magna Mater, Archaeological Park of The Colosseum, Rome 2022

  • Restoration of ceramics from excavation of grave at the Via Appia Antica, Archaeological Park of The Colosseum, University of Ferrara 2023-2024

Local historic archives: 2011-ongoing

  • Historic archives of the city of San Gemini

  • Historic archives of the city of Collescipoli

  • Historic archives of the Diocese of Narni

  • Historic archives of the Diocese of Terni

  • The Terni State Archives

Structure

We have in place an academic structure with a highly qualified instructional and administrative staff, comfortable facilities to accommodate lessons and workshops and appropriate housing for students. We have institutional relationships that allow us to operate in San Gemini and organize various collaborative projects. 

Location

San Gemini is a small medieval city in the southern part the region of Umbria near the city of Terni. Its origins go back to Roman times and is famous in Italy for its mineral waters. It has a population of about 5,000 inhabitants. As a charming hill town, with a friendly population used to hosting foreign students, it is an ideal place to study without too many distractions. San Gemini has enough local amenities, restaurants, bars and shops for comfortable everyday living.

The Umbrian Region offers students some of the most interesting places of cultural interest in Italy, including Rome and Florence, within easy reach. Near San Gemini are the ancient ruins of the Roman city of Carsulae that connects the present settlement through time to its ancient roots.

 Contacts:

Program Director: Massimo Cardillo [email protected]

Associate Director: Polly Withers [email protected]

 Academic Coordinator: Michel Benucci [email protected]

Local Manager: Aberto Gentilucci [email protected]

Associazione Valorizzazione del Patrimonio Storico San Gemini: Piero Zannori [email protected]