Evaluation of indoor environmental conditions in the Sanctuary of the Beata Vergine dei Miracoli

Many studies concerned with the analysis of microclimatic conditions and air quality inside museums have been conducted through the years with the aim to protect and prevent degradation of cultural heritage. However, museums are not the only places in which artifacts of historic and artistic interest can be found. For instance, churches and sanctuaries often are the home to numerous works of art which require as much care and attention in order to be properly preserved. In this study, the microclimatic conditions and air quality were monitored inside the Sanctuary of the Beata Vergine dei Miracoli, located in Saronno (VA), Italy, which hosts several important artifacts such as frescoes by Bernardino Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari, along with wooden sculptures created by Andrea da Corbetta and decorated by Alberto da Lodi. The results of the campaign showed that both the microclimatic conditions and the air pollutants’ concentrations are higher than the ideal threshold values suggested for the conservation of the artifacts.