The Crypt of Original Sin

The Cripta del Peccato Originale (Crypt of the Original Sin) is a rupestrian church in Matera. Because of its precious cycle of frescoes, dated between the 8th and 9th centuries and painted by the artist known as the Painter of the Flowers of Matera and expressing the historical features of Benedictine-Benevan art, it is called the "Sistine Chapel of the rupestrian" The left wall is enlivened by three niches, on which the triarchies of the Apostles, the Virgin Queen and the Archangels are depicted respectively. The back wall, on the other hand, is enlivened by a large pictorial cycle depicting episodes from the Creation and Original Sin. The cycle of frescoes, which had been attacked by moss, lichens and cyanobacteria for years, was recovered thanks to a project by the Zétema Foundation, with the consultancy of the Central Institute for Restoration and the participation of committed professionals. The restoration work, which was made possible thanks to funding from the CARIPLO Foundation of Milan, CARISBO of Bologna and Cassa di Risparmio di Piacenza e Vigevano as part of ACRI's Sviluppo Sud project, constitutes a scientific reference model, a code of practice for future interventions on the world's rock heritage.