Les matériaux de couverture des édifices religieux italiens entre l’Antiquité tardive et le Moyen Âge

[Machine translation] The article analyzes the roofing materials of medieval Italian churches, made mainly of terracotta, but also of wood, metal tables and lauzes. Through several case studies, attested both by written and material sources, various aspects are examined: the relationship with the solutions adopted in Roman times, manufacturing techniques as well as those of implementation. Ecclesiastical buildings are a privileged observatory for the analysis of medieval roofs, in particular with regard to sustainable materials: in fact, at the level of residential construction, roofs were almost exclusively made of perishable materials. The rather complex production processes and the use of qualified workshops in the construction of the roofs of these buildings are explained in relation to a sponsorship essentially linked to episcopal and monastic/canonical centers, which are inclined to invest in the construction and maintenance of roofs. These not only have functional value but, because of their high visibility, also have a symbolic value and are highly representative of the religious institution whose church they protect and enhance.