Non-invasive optical spectroscopical analyses were conducted on the three main walls of Alexander and Roxane’s Wedding Room in Villa Farnesina, Rome. The north and the east walls were frescoed by Sodoma in 1519. The decoration of the third wall was subsequent and neither the author nor the period is known. The north and east walls underwent various restorations, some even very invasive. For these reasons, the supposed remaining original parts of the two walls by Sodoma were studied and compared with the third one, aiming to obtain more information about its author and epoch. The results show the use of the same pigments for the three walls. In particular, the same yellow pigments including lead antimonate, the use of enamel blue with Bi impurities whose use is time-limited, and the use of a certain kind of purple hematite. The commonality in the pictorial technique also emerged, especially in the yellow parts, painted in the same way on each wall. This information, and documentary sources, reinforce the hypothesis that the third wall was decorated shortly after the death of Agostino Chigi by someone who was well-acquainted with the materials and techniques used by Sodoma for the other two walls.

Urban bus stops are critical air pollution hotspots often overlooked in mitigation strategies. While large green spaces are studied, the impact of small-scale vegetation remains less clear. This research evaluated the role of common evergreen shrubs (Prunus laurocerasus and Pyracantha x 'Navaho') in reducing PM₁₀ mass concentration. The study was conducted at a high-traffic bus stop in Bergamo, Northern Italy, during winter (January-February) and autumn (October) 2024, focusing on their potential to improve air quality in dense urban microenvironments. Results showed that the shrubs reduced PM₁₀ mass concentrations by 21% in winter and 16% in autumn compared to adjacent areas without vegetation. Additionally, chemical analysis via ICP-OES and XRF showed that PM_10,-associated metals decreased by an average of 5%, with Cu showing the highest removal rate at 64% followed by Sr (61%). SEM/EDX analysis of plant leaves revealed a chemical profile (Mg, Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, and Ti) consistent with the atmospheric samples. These findings demonstrate the potential of small-scale, evergreen vegetation to reduce air pollution in traffic-heavy areas. Integrating such green elements into urban planning offers a sustainable, low-cost strategy to improve air quality and public health in densely populated cities.