ABSTRACT
The Italian earthquake which has hit the Emilia region in 2012 has caused damages to the architectural heritage of the area. In particular, the earthquake has highlighted the vulnerability of some building typologies, such as: masonry bell-towers, churches, historical buildings and palaces, theaters and fortresses. The ground shaking levels at sites in the region depend on the distance from the earthquake, the rock and soil conditions at sites, and variations in the propagation of seismic waves from the earthquake due to complexities in the structure of the Earth's crust. The data for the shake maps in terms of peak ground acceleration of the analyzed earthquakes have been downloaded as shapefiles and then inserted in the geographic information system. Castles at the time of the earthquake were usually unused or in ruins. The poor condition of the masonry, together with high accelerations, can explain their frequent damage.
