## 1 Introduction  
The importance of rehabilitating and preserving iconic historic structures has led to an ever-growing focus on developing new structural analysis techniques based on a multidisciplinary approach [1; 2; 3; 4]. One of the most important aspects that influences the evaluation of the structural performance of historic buildings is represented by the correct geometry reconstruction. In fact, during the last decades, several approaches have been proposed based on the use of laser scanners [5; 6; 7], Unmanned Aerial Vehicles [8; 9], and terrestrial photogrammetry [10; 11], with which it is possible to determine all the intrinsic irregularities characterising the structural elements geometry of historic buildings. Moreover, most of these buildings are in seismic-prone zones and are constructed with ancient unreinforced masonry (URM) using various construction techniques [12; 13; 14]. In particular, religious architecture, such as cathedrals, monasteries, and churches, represents a significant portion of heritage buildings, which are characterised by a high level of seismic vulnerability. Focusing attention on Italian historic buildings, many of them have suffered significant damage during recent strong seismic events, such as the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake, when 170 out of 240 monuments showed important damage or partial failure [15]. In fact, this type of building is generally characterised by a complex structural configuration due to the presence of several open spaces and slender walls and the absence of stiffening floors. A further crucial factor influencing the structural behaviour of historic constructions is the quality of the materials used, especially for masonry that has deteriorated over time. This deterioration leads to a reduction in the mechanical properties of the material, which, in turn, leads to a decline in the structural performance of the main elements, both under static and dynamic loads. Furthermore, several useful approaches for evaluating the structural behaviour of URM buildings have been proposed [16]. In fact, considering that masonry is a composite structural material made of blocks (natural or artificial) assembled with layers of mortar or dry joints, the correct modelling of its structural behaviour is challenging, due to several aspects, such as anisotropy, heterogeneity, etc. For these reasons, different methodologies have been presented in the scientific literature [17]. Nevertheless, the use of refined models that are capable of taking into account all these aspects is limited in design practice, where the application of simplified approaches is more common. In general, these approaches are based on the schematization of the main structural elements by means of macroelements, in order to reduce the computational effort. Nowadays, in common practice, pushover analysis is combined with simplified structural models based on the macroelements approach. One of the most used modelling strategies is represented by the Equivalent Frame Method (EFM), which is widely adopted for the evaluation of the seismic performance of URM buildings with regular geometry. In this method, the macroelements are used to discretise walls as an assemblage of piers, spandrels, and rigid nodes. However, the EFM is characterised by strongly simplified hypotheses and several limitations. During recent years, several approaches have been proposed for the evaluation of the seismic performance of existing URM constructions. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [18] have analysed the seismic performance of slender masonry structures, considering different methods and highlighting their advantages and related limitations. In [PERSON] et al. [19], an advanced numerical insight for the evaluation of the seismic behaviour of two row housing compounds was carried out by means of the implementation of several finite element models. Among the wide range of analysis methods, numerical approaches stand out for their diffusion.