Sara Bova

Sara Bova is a Research Fellow at the Department of Arts at the University of Bologna and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the University of Naples Federico II. She holds a PhD in the History of Architecture and Urbanism from IUAV University of Venice (2017). Her research focuses on architectural patronage, Renaissance and Early Modern architectural history, and the interplay between art and architecture in cultural contexts.

She has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Naples Federico II (2022–2023) and was a Weinberg Fellow at Columbia University’s Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America (2022), where she studied the relationship between workshop organization and social dynamics among Roman stone masons in the 15th century. She has collaborated with the Vatican Museums on the Cortile del Belvedere restoration project and published extensively on topics such as the patronage of Venetian Cardinal Marco Barbo, architectural site management in the Early Modern era, and the representation of architecture in Renaissance art.

Her work often bridges historical documentation with architectural analysis, examining how architectural projects reflect broader cultural, political, and religious contexts. Key contributions include a monograph on Marco Barbo ("Horti Hesperidum," 2023) and studies on the Vatican’s Belvedere complex under Pope Julius III. She frequently participates in international conferences, discussing themes like architectural syncretism, restoration terminology, and the role of workshops in Renaissance construction.

Bova’s research also extends to the analysis of architectural treaties, such as Diego de Sagredo’s *Medidas del romano*, and the impact of humanist ideals on suburban residences. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates textual analysis, material evidence, and historical context to illuminate the cultural significance of architectural endeavors.