The Sanctuary of Vicoforte is a monumental Marian shrine located in Piedmont and represents one of the most significant examples of Italian Baroque religious architecture. Its origins lie in a medieval votive image of the Virgin Mary associated with a miraculous event, which led to growing popular devotion and, from the late sixteenth century, to the construction of a large sanctuary promoted by the House of Savoy. After long interruptions, the building was completed mainly in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, resulting in a structure that combines artistic richness, symbolic meaning, and exceptional technical ambition. The most remarkable element of the sanctuary is its dome, which is the largest elliptical dome in the world. Its innovative shape and extraordinary dimensions made it a daring engineering achievement for its time. Built in the early eighteenth century under the direction of Francesco Gallo, the dome required precise control of structural forces and remains today a unique case study in historical construction techniques. The interior surface is entirely covered with frescoes, creating a powerful sense of verticality and spiritual elevation.

The visit to the sanctuary will focus in particular on the dome and on the modern system implemented for its monitoring and structural consolidation. It will include a detailed presentation and guided explanation by the technicians responsible for the ongoing control and maintenance of the structure. During the visit, special attention will be given to the configuration of the installed sensors, the data acquisition system, and the methods used for processing and interpreting the collected information.

Overall, the event aims to provide an up to date overview of structural health monitoring systems, with a specific focus on large masonry domes and on the Sanctuary of Vicoforte as a case study, currently managed by the Polytechnic University of Turin.