Local seismic culture in the Mediterranean region

In contexts of high seismic activity, such as the Mediterranean area, many local communities have developed strategies for managing such a risk, adapting all available resources for creating earthquake-resistant rules, shaping not just a particular building culture, but a complex local seismic culture. Over the centuries, the Mediterranean area has known an unequalled variety of building experiences thanks to the continuous exchanges and the dissemination of innovative solutions. The paper investigates and analyses the contribution of Mediterranean local building culture in the strategies of defence against earthquakes, through their conditions, logic and specific devices. This text presents those technical building devices, which are strictly connected to the local seismic culture, describing the techniques used to reinforce and to absorb loads horizontally in earthen, stone, and brick masonries.