Wooden trusses
On the third floor of the Relais Santa Croce you will be fascinated by the vision of the Wooden Trusses that were created in the 18th century to cover the main lounge, the Sala della Musica, with the purpose of sustaining the enormous lamp, 3 metres in diameter, used to light and decorate the room.
The truss (or trestle) is an architectural element traditionally made of wood, comprising a flat rectangular framework positioned vertically and used as the base element of a gable roof. The truss has the advantage of eliminating horizontal forces thanks to its circular structure in which the horizontal element cancels the force of those parts that are inclined (rafters): it is therefore typically placed between structures of the architecture whose weight is not supported by the ground.
