Cultural and natural heritage (CNH) are persistently at risk due to the impact of extreme climate events, with an increasing frequency over time due to climate change. The assessment and monitoring of these effects impose new and continuously changing conservation challenges and urgently needs for innovative preservation and safeguarding approach. Research into user-driven solutions/tools and mitigation/adaptation strategies, is therefore urgently required, based on sound scientific studies, capitalization of achieved knowledge, transferring and dissemination of results and coordinated actions among the different actors involved in the decisionmaking process for protection and management of CNH (Public Authorities, scientific community, private sector, rescue bodies). The present contribution aims at illustrating the “Risk mapping tool for cultural heritage protection” specifically designed to support policy and decision makers, researchers and professional figures in charge for the protection of cultural heritage sites in the identification of risk areas and assessment of vulnerabilities for cultural heritage exposed to extreme events linked to climate change. Its development was strongly based on a user-driven approach and the multidisciplinary collaboration among the scientific community, public authorities and the private sector.

A preliminary investigation was carried out on two different colored tourmalines (TMs), sourced by the Mineral and Gem collection of the Messina University (Messina, Italy). The employment of μ- Raman spectroscopy allowed to unambiguously recognize the mineral sub-group these species belong to, starting from the molecular composition. Through X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), the elemental composition of the studied gemstones was achieved, identifying the chromophores responsible for the observed colorations. The obtained results allowed to define the mineral “fingerprinting” and get insights into the crystallization history of the TM host rock and the criteria according to which TMs exhibit a particular color.

The Roman thermae in Reggio Calabria (Italy) provides many information regarding both engineering and technology for this type of buildings. A small treasure of three survived mural paintings encloses information about the artistic style and the ancient luxury of the baths. In order to get light on the executive technique and conservation state we performed the investigation of these paintings by following a non-invasive approach composed of multispectral imaging and spectroscopic analysis. By so doing, we determined the pigment palette and the distribution of some pigments allowing us to make some hypothesis about the executive technique and to provide a basis for a future virtual restoration of the paintings.

During the Bronze Age, essential advances occurred in the field of architecture. Roundhouses and tombs with circular stone walls appeared. The present research aims to geolocate the sources of raw building materials used by workmen during the Bronze age to construct a Mycenean-type tholos tomb discovered in the alluvial plain of the Messina Ionian slope (Fiumara Gazzi). The used method has foreseen the geological, sedimentological, structural, mineralogical, and petrographic mesoscopic analyses of the tomb’s building stones to compare them with the rock features of the surrounding geological outcrops of the Peloritani Mountains. The studied building stones consist of metamorphic, magmatic, and sedimentary rocks. Crystalline building stones are mostly wellrounded alluvial pebbles and boulders; most sedimentary stones are characterized by hand-made well-squared shapes with a minor amount of alluvial pebbles. Studies on the provenance of the alluvial pebbles and boulders of crystalline and sedimentary rocks indicated that they derived, respectively, from the highest and intermediate zones of the northern end of the Peloritani Mountains, where the crystalline rocks (Aspromonte and the Mela Units) and the Tertiary to Quaternary sedimentary covers are respectively in tectonic contact because of a normal fault of the Messina Straits tectonic system. The sedimentary hand-made building stones are derived from local quarries in the surrounding areas, near San Filippo, where the well-bedded bioclastic calcareous rudstones and grainstones are well exposed and visible at a distance.

Archaeological heritage protection starts with a complete understanding of the area's morphology and the risk that threatens its integrity. With this aim, a multidisciplinary approach is applied. A hydraulic analysis based on a digital terrain survey is implemented to respond to archaeological questions. The case study is the Hypogeum of Calaforno (Ragusa, Sicily). This site is a unique representation of rock-cut architecture in terms of size and morphological features that render it one of the most important prehistoric monuments in Sicily. The analyses are performed to show the importance of a detailed digital survey, which allows an accurate investigation of the monument to determine the flow direction and identify the water accumulation zone. This study will help optimize flood risk mitigation measures inside the Hypogeum.