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Photographer's Note

The monastery of the Sacro Speco (or St. Benedict) is today a highly scenic and picturesque building, installed in the curvature of a huge rock wall and supported by nine high arches, some pointed. Inside, the complicated maze of rooms, churches, chapels, sometimes carved from the rock is covered with a precious fresco decoration of various ages, from early Byzantine works (eighth century) to the valuable painting of St. Francis (1223) first faithful representation ever made of the saint, completed three years before his death, the paintings of Magister Consolus (second half of the thirteenth century), the remarkable frescoes by Umbrian and Tuscan school of the upper church and other environments (XIV and XV). The fresco depicting St. Francis of Assisi, considered the first and its most faithful representation was made 3 years before his death, probably during his stay in 1223-1224 and shows a Francis stigmata and no halo. Also notable is the statue of St. Benedict, by Antonio Raggi (1657).

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Additional Photos by Valter Palone (bayno) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1212 W: 288 N: 2131] (16195)
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