Milazzo begins safety measures for archaeological excavations at Piazza

Milazzo begins safety measures for archaeological excavations at Piazza Duomo

The Municipality of Milazzo, following a request from the Superintendency for Cultural and Environmental Heritage, has started urgent interventions to protect the town's archaeological areas, focusing on Piazza Duomo and via Ciantro. A technical inspection revealed degradation that compromises both the protection of finds and public safety.

The survey identified significant issues with the steel-and-glass covering above the excavations: cracked or warped glass panels, misaligned metal frames, localized subsidence and weather-related deterioration. Given the high footfall in the area, the condition was deemed a concrete risk to public safety.

Work underway

By an emergency municipal ordinance, safety works have begun. Current operations include:

• removal of damaged glass panels;
• dismantling and securing of the metal roof structure;
• cleaning of the archaeological area, removing invasive vegetation and debris;
• installation of temporary, non-climbable protective barriers to prevent accidental access.

Local authorities stress that these measures eliminate immediate hazards and enable subsequent major maintenance to proceed safely. The interventions are coordinated with the Superintendency to ensure that conservation rules and heritage constraints are respected.

Operational context: the actions follow an official request and a technical inspection documenting structural degradation. The priority is to restore suitable conditions for conservation and safe public enjoyment of the archaeological site.