Cesare Silvi, ISES ITALIA*, csilvi@indra. com Patricia Ferro, ISES ITALIA*, criferro@tiscali. it

Tiziana Ceccarini, Educational Section — State Superintendence of Archaeological Monuments in Rome*, tiziana. ceccaririi@archeorm. arti. beriiculturalUt

Introduction

Italy’s landscape is dotted with historical towns and archaeological sites. The integration of renewable energy technology in the Italian built environment and landscape and its aesthetic impact is raising various concerns, especially due to the rapidly growing deployment of wind and other solar energy systems.

On these aspects and, more in general on solar energy, ISES ITALIA, in cooperation with and support of the Educational Section of the State Superintendence of Archaeological Monuments in Rome, is promoting solar energy education combining art, history, science and technology at archaeological sites.

This concept started to emerge in 1992 and became a program for schoolchildren in the year 2000 as a follow up to two solar spectrum art exhibitions, named “SOS — Secrets of the Sun: Millennial Meditations" and “New Light on Rome", held at the Trajan’s Markets, one of the most spectacular ancient monuments in the heart of Imperial Rome, and other monuments.

The success of the exhibitions, which attracted thousands of visitors, and the fruitful cooperation with the authorities responsible for the monuments, in particular the Archaeological Superintendence, the City of Rome, and the State Superintendence of Archaeological Monuments in Rome, lead to the exploration of the possibility to integrate existing educational programs for schoolchildren on history and archaeology with energy topics and the related environmental issues.

In the year 2000, ISES ITALIA and the State Superintendence of Archaeological Monuments in Rome started the project "Solar Energy by studying Ancient Architecture", and have since held solar educational laboratories at archaeological sites involving more than 1000 students, dozens of teachers and five archaeologists. Among the educational tools used was the exhibition “Arte e Tecnologie Solarf’ (Solar Art and Solar Technologies). The addressed topics at the laboratories range from the use of renewable energy in past civilisations and in ancient buildings, as well as prospects for the use of solar energy in the future. In this paper details are provided about "Solar Energy by studying Ancient Architecture" at two

archaeological monumental complexes in Rome: Villa dei Quintili, of the I-II centuries A. D., and Diocletian Baths of III — IV centuries A. D.

The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors and should not be ascribed to ISES ITALIA or to the State Superintendence of Archaeological Monuments in Rome