Microclimatic analysis in St. Stephan's church, Nessebar, Bulgaria after interventions for the conservation of frescoes

A microclimatic field test was carried out in St. Stephan's church in Nassebar to check the actual microclimatic conditions before beginning the restoration of precious frescoes, painted on the internal walls and which date back to the end of the 16th century. Some years ago, a series of erroneous interventions caused heavy weathering of these frescoes. Successively, another series of structural changes were made on the basis of advice furnished by UNESCO, in order to prevent their further deterioration. Currently, the microclimatic conditions are good with only a few weak gradients in the main thermohygrometrical parameters, and the internal conditions are such that there is very little deposition of pollutants. A last series of structural interventions is necessary to eliminate the few remaining causes of perturbations in the internal microclimate. Given that when micropores are saturated with water, cycles of mechanical stress can occur, the situation becoming even more dangerous in the presence of soluble salts. Consequently, an analysis of the porosity of the stone was performed and the results showed that micropores measuring between 0.005 and 0.1 mm and even greater were, in effect, filled with water. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS