The density of archeological, historical, architectural and biblical meanings and values make the "citadel" of Cesarea a place with which it is necessari to deal delicately and prudently. A modern conservation project enhances the functions of archeology by harmonizing the liturgical goal, helping to increase a precious resource such as the cultural wealth of the place.
An innovative "strategy" is proposed to recompose and underline the "stratigraphic" dimension of historical, cultural and religious events, with the needs related to the liturgical functions.
An intervention that seeks to give new meaning to the use of archaeological materials, rewriting traditional liturgical spaces above the cultural spaces themselves, aiming to the emotional and cultural involvement of the faithful.
The site enhancement project and the recovery of the liturgical use of the Cathedral of San Pietro is extremely complex and modern: in addition to the usual problems of architectural work, it has the arduous task of confronting and dialoguing with archaeological pre-existences. This difficulty translates into a further stimulus for the design that, while respecting the memory, safeguards the finds making enjoy the sumptuousness that once had to be proper of the San Pietro Cathedral.
A thorough scientific approach, which allows to characterize the used types of materials an construction techniques, was necessary to an intervention aimed to safeguard the pre-existing structures without undermining the integrity of historical memory.
The drafting of the architectural project that involves what remains from the San Pietro Cathedral represent an arduous task, especially because of the delicacy of the archaeological finds that can't be manipulated, but require extreme attention for their protection.
The preservation of the original, combined with the desire to let the majesty of the crusader church, which is hidden behind each archaeological fragment in the Cathedral of San Pietro, pushed us towards a project that involves the construction of a large roof in the shape of white sails above the remains of the 13-th century. church. The symbolic meaning of the structure leads back to the sails of the "Fisherman" and of San Paolo, who left from there, the port of Cesarea, sailing across the seas for his apostolate.
