La Cripta di Santa Maria degli Angeli, built around the year 1000, after a long period of religious use, began to be neglected and fell into disuse in the 15th century. Centuries of neglect followed. In 1929, during an excavation, it was accidentally rediscovered and restored, thus regaining its original appearance.
However, the widespread and incurable humidity of the walls and the looming threat of mold made it necessary to detach the frescoes, which were removed from their location and taken to the Istituto Centrale del Restauro in Rome. Restored and exhibited in a series of exhibitions, the frescoes returned to their homeland, Poggiardo, where they found a worthy place in a museum, created by the will of then Mayor Raffaele Pascarito, located in the municipal Villa in Piazza G. Episcopo and inaugurated on June 12, 1975.
The crypt, meticulously and faithfully restored, has finally been brought back to its ancient splendor also thanks to the installation, in the original sites, of artistic and durable copies, made of fireproof polystyrene, of the original paintings. Today it is therefore possible, not only to admire the restored original frescoes, housed in the modern museum of the Municipal Villa, but also to visit the ancient Crypt, with the precious copies, in Via Don Minzoni.
Information about the Museum of the Frescoes of the Crypt of S. Maria degli Angeli
Piazza Episcopio,
7303 Poggiardo (Lecce)
0836909812
segreteriagenerale@poggiardo.com
https://www.poggiardo.com
Source: MIBACT
