GPR Investigations at the Monastery of S. Chiara (Nardó, south Italy)

Abstract

The Monastery of S. Chiara is located in the city of Nardò (Lecce, Italy). It is the oldest Monastery in southern Italy. In fact it was erected in 1256, only three years after the birth of St. Chiara in heaven.Tommaso Gentile, Count of Nardò, opened the doors of the medieval city walls to receive the first Clarisse nuns. A study was undertaken in some areas inside of the Monastery in order to investigate the buried archaeological structures. The ground-penetrating radar methodology was applied. GPR data analysis show interesting electromagnetic wave reflection events that could be related to archaeological remains.