Thesis title: La produzione architettonica longobarda nella penisola italica tra il VI ed il IX secolo
Despite the numerous studies concerning Lombard history and society initiated since the 19th century, it remains evident that there are still significant gaps regarding the material legacy of this people. These gaps have been partially filled in recent years by archaeology, which—through the excavation of necropolises and settlements—has provided many valuable insights into this so-called "barbarian" population. However, little attention has been paid to the buildings inevitably constructed by the Lombards during their three centuries of dominance over the Italian peninsula.
With the exception of a few accidental discoveries, research on Lombard architecture has long relied almost exclusively on archaeological investigations. These studies have provided important confirmations of historical accounts—such as Paul the Deacon’s Historia Langobardorum—by attesting to the extensive building activity promoted by the Lombards in both civil and religious contexts.
The discontinuity, fragmentation, and imprecision of the available data and scholarly research on Lombard architecture have therefore necessitated a thorough reconsideration and a dedicated study aimed at shedding light on a crucial chapter in the architectural history of the European Early Middle Ages. Beginning with an essential introductory reflection on Lombard society, religion, and patterns of patronage, this research has focused on the study of ecclesiastical architecture sponsored by the Lombards, aiming not only to identify the origins of their architectural language but also to define the distinctive characteristics that differentiate it from earlier and later architectural traditions.
Indeed, the study of Lombard architecture has involved a detailed analytical effort, which has made it possible to trace the roots of numerous typological solutions adopted in Italic architectural production between the 6th and 9th centuries. Through the examination of both the most representative and the lesser-known places of worship built under Lombard patronage, this research has moved beyond a general survey to construct a corpus—currently lacking in the field—that offers a revised and updated study from an architectural perspective. This is not merely a compilation of individual buildings and descriptions, but a work that, in conjunction with typological analysis, aims to establish conceptual connections among the buildings. Such an approach is intended to assist future scholars in understanding not only the specific traits of the Lombard architectural language, but also its place within the broader history of architecture.