Professional profile
Technical analysis of ancient monuments | Direct and Instrumental Surveying | Close-range Photogrammetry | 3D modelling | UAV pilot | Archaeological Restoration
The research activity is structured in the following areas:
Field research activity in the field of territorial and urban complex surveying.
As a member of the Prinias Archaeological Mission, responsible for the cartographic sector and for the digital documentation and archiving of data, he has been involved in the production of geo-referenced base cartography and in the survey of the discovered structures. He also collaborated with ISPC colleague A. Pautasso on the archaeological and architectural study of two important complexes located on the Patela of Prinias: “The Proto-Archaic complex on the southern slope of the Patela”, a study published in 2023 among the monographs of the Italian Archaeological School of Athens, and Temple A, a building of great importance for the study of the formation of the Greek temple, forthcoming. A GIS platform (QGIS open-source) is currently being set up, in collaboration with Dr. V. Guarnera, to integrate data already collected by the colleague and stored in a relational database (ARCHIAS Project – Digital ARCHive of the Iron Age Siderospilia Necropolis).
2) Research activity within the framework of CNR ISPC activities in the field of survey, restoration, and technical analysis of ancient monuments.
At Prinias he has been engaged in the study and technical analysis of several important architectural complexes: the Hellenistic fortress; the stretch of Archaic fortification wall along the north-western slopes of the Patela; and, since 2012, also thanks to an INSTAP grant, the topographical and typological analysis of the Siderospilia necropolis, in particular the study of the so-called built tombs—chamber tombs, tholoi, and pseudo-tholoi. In Sicily he has also worked on the survey and technical analysis of several important Roman monuments in the territory of Centuripe (Enna), on which he published (in collaboration with ISPC colleague G. Biondi) already in 2017 a “Guide to Monuments of the Roman Imperial Period.” These include two Antonine-period mausolea (the Mausoleum of Corradino and the so-called Dogana), two Imperial-period bath buildings (thermal remains in Contrada Bagni and the so-called Acquamara bath complex), and a Roman gallery. On the site of Centuripe, again in collaboration with G. Biondi, he has just published (February 2026) the new archaeological map of Centuripe and its territory (“Centuripe. The Archaeological Map”).
Research activity in the field of rapid photogrammetric survey.
Close Range Photogrammetry of monuments and portions of territory and production of 3D models using SFM techniques, with ground based and drone documentation. For drone piloting he attended theoretical and practical courses with certification at ENAC-EASA-authorized institutions, obtaining already in 2014 the APR Class Vl/Mc (A1-A3) drone pilot license and, in 2016, the Vl/Mc-CRO qualification for flight in standard scenarios, valid in all EU countries. EASA certificate renewal in 2021 (Open Sub-Category A1/A3, A2) and CRO refresh in 2023 with CRM and COM certifications – remote pilot IT-STS. Latest refresh in February 2026, valid until 2031.
CNR Disciplinary Fields and Research Management Sectors
- SH8_1 Science and Technologies for Cultural Heritage
- SH8_5 History of art and of architecture
- SH6_6 Digital, computational, virtual and geospatial archaeologies
Groups & Labs CNR ISPC
Palace, Polis, Urbs Research Group →
Publications
Highlight
Biondi, G., & Rizza, S. (2026). Centuripe. La Carta Archeologica (Vol. 2). SMAC – Studi e Materiali di Archeologia Classica. Cnr Edizioni. ISBN 978-88-8080-831-2; 978-88-8080-832-9
Rizza, S. (2023). Ο οχυρωματικός περίβολος της πόλης του Μενδολίτο (Αντράνο). Αρχαιολογικά στοιχεία και υποθέσεις σχετικά με την αρχαία πορεία του. In M. I. Stefanakis, M. Giannopoulou, & M. Achiola (Eds.), Polytropos. Honorary Volume for Professor Nikolaos Chr. Stampolidis (Vol. II, pp. 321–334). Mesogiakì Archaiologikì Etairéia. ISBN 978‑618‑86730‑0‑7
Pautasso A., Rizza S., Il complesso protoarcaico sul versante meridionale della Patela, Monografie della Scuola Archeologica Italiana di Atene, Atene 2023, ISBN 978-960-9559-34-8 (cartaceo). ISSN 1970-6146 (cartaceo).
