a newly restored fresco rewrites the history of the Church of Santo Spirito

A new surprising historical-artistic discovery would push back the presence of the parish church of Santo Spirito in Aversto even a couple of centuries. This is the fresco found in the church located above via Rome and presented to the city yesterday, Tuesday 4 June 2024, at the end of a delicate restoration process. The fresco, which is located behind the Tridentine altar and which was covered by lime, was freed from the whitewash thanks to the efforts of the parish priest Don Alfonso d’Erricoattracted by the faint re-emergence from the wall of the three painted – as well as engraved – halos present in the depiction.

«Some time ago – declares the parish priest – I noticed some radiated circular shapes emerging from the plaster and I informed the bishop and theoffice for i Goods Cultural of our diocese.” Subsequently, in constant collaboration with the Superintendency, it was decided to commission an in-depth analysis of the discovery, after which it was possible to prepare a restoration project: a laborious and careful process which first of all made it necessary to consolidate the fresco, given the presence of some damaged areas.

«According to the conclusions of the essay, we are right in the middle Three hundred» adds Don Alfonso. The depiction, identifiable as “Christ in mercy”, presents Jesus dead – but not yet resurrected – emerging from the Sepulcher while, behind him, the cross and the symbols of the passion stand out. On the sides of Christ you can admire the Our Lady of Sorrows And San John.

The parish church was previously an ancient commandery of the knights of Santo Spirito in Sassia. Although its foundation is unknown, some documents preserved at theDiocesan Historical Archive they traced back to XVI century the presence of the church as a rectory located outside the city walls, to be precise at 1565.

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