A cycle of Romanesque frescoes of the Byzantine school
On the slopes of Mount Tifata, near Capua, the Basilica of Sant'Angelo in Formis stands on the site of an ancient temple of Diana, whose columns and floor were reused. Rebuilt in the eleventh century by the Benedictines of Montecassino under the great abbot Desiderius, it is one of the most important monuments of medieval art in southern Italy.
Its interior is entirely covered with a cycle of frescoes painted around 1072 to 1087, one of the most complete of the Romanesque period in Europe. Along the nave scenes from the Old and New Testament unfold in vivid colours; in the apse Christ in majesty is flanked by the archangels and by abbot Desiderius himself, who offers the model of the church, with the square halo of the living. The style blends Byzantine influences, brought by Greek artists summoned to Montecassino, with a western narrative force. The façade has a portico with pointed arches.
Tip: check opening times in advance, as they are limited; the light in the morning is best for the frescoes.
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