Santa Maria ad cryptas, a photo from LAquila, Abruzzo

Photographer's Note

Santa Maria ad cryptas - Fossa (AQ)

History

The church of Santa Maria ad Cryptas is located, like many other Abruzzo churches, in an isolated place, about one kilometer from the town of Fossa and a few kilometers from the abbey of Santo Spirito ad Ocre, of which it was an addiction for a certain period.
Probably it stands on a place already dedicated to the cult of the goddess Vesta, the cult of the female divinity has been transformed, over the centuries, into the Marian one.
The first building was built, probably in the 9th or 10th century AD. according to the canons of Roman-Byzantine architecture.
On this structure, in the thirteenth century, a new religious building was erected in the Gothic-Cistercian style, by Benedictine workers. An earthquake in 1313 caused the collapse of the left wall and damage to the roof, rebuilt with trusses while the original was at times. On that occasion, a reinforcement downstream was built, by means of a counterthrust wall buried along the entire side and two support pillars in ashlar travertine, and the new portal was opened. The temple was then further renovated and restored over the following centuries, yet today it presents itself according to the original thirteenth-century characters.

holmertz, Fis2, pierrefonds, Royaldevon, ikeharel, jhm, COSTANTINO, ChrisJ, PaulVDV, adramad, mcmtanyel ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

ifege (46923) 2021-09-11 1:08

Hi Silvio
A good photo of this heavily decorated crypt covered in good looking frescoes in various states of decay.
cheers
Ian

holmertz (101980) 2021-09-11 3:37

Hello Silvio,
Everything is not in the best condition, but this room still looks fantastic so it's easy to imagine what a great impact it must have made when the building and paintings were new. I have rarely seen a room so heavily decorated "from tip to toe". You used the limited light very well.
Best regards,
Gert

Fis2 (169709) 2021-09-11 3:53

Witaj Silvio!
Wonderful interior, the frescoes make impression.
I like main altar.
Good POV, colors and sharpness.
Well done.
Have a nice weekend.
Krzysztof

pierrefonds (113572) 2021-09-11 5:11

Hi Silvio,

Le sujet est bien cadré. La prise de vue permet de voir les détails de l'intérieur de l'église Santa Maria ad cryptas. La lumière rehausse les couleurs de l'image. Bonne journée.

Pierre

Tue (91564) 2021-09-11 5:52

Hello Silvio,
A wonderful photo with so much fantastic wall paintings, which you managed to capture so well and clearly in a pleasant, soft light. Very well done.
Lars

Royaldevon (85606) 2021-09-11 6:16

Ciao Caro Silvio,

There is so much to see in this section of the church! The walls and the arches are covered in detailed, religious frescoes.
There is just enough light entering to allow you to capture the pictures clearly.

What a pity that so much of these ancient frescoes is damaged. It would take a very diligent specialist to repair the panels and renovate the damaged areas.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

abmdsudi (95869) 2021-09-11 7:16

Hi Silvio
This looks so peaceful and a real feast of detail for the eyes! Amazing craftsmanship of a grand interior with great feeling of scale as well which has a distinctive 3-D feel to it. You have held the light very well with nice shades and fantastic overall contrast. Fascinating historical church so well recorded.
Best regards

lousat (138599) 2021-09-11 8:59

Ciao Silvio,questa è davvero molto bella,assolutamente originale e ricchissima di decorazioni che si sono quasi conservate per intero,cattura eccellente come sempre. Buona serata,Luciano

jhm (211734) 2021-09-11 9:04

Ciao Silvio,

I've never seen so much frescoes than in this Santa Maria ad Cryptas - Fossa.
Pleasant picture to look at.
Excellent sharp and detailed view.
Very well done, TFS.

Nice weekend,
John.

jmdias (114262) 2021-09-11 12:32

silvio

fabulous collection of murals as we can see here and there. interesting the shapes of the church.

take care

jorge

COSTANTINO (115515) 2021-09-11 23:08

Hello dear Silvio and have
a pleasant Sunday
Another impressive photo
from Santa Maria ad cryptas
Fossa located like many other
Abruzzo churches in an
isolated place...
an interior really impressive
with valuable pieces of art
regards
Costantino

pajaran (114891) 2021-09-11 23:40

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lep enterijer i detalji, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama i kontrastom.
Lepa stara arhitektura.
Dobar rad, lepa fotografija.
Lepa unutrasnjost church of Santa Maria ad Cryptas.

Zelim vam lep dan za odmor, sve najbolje.
Paja

mkamionka (73344) 2021-09-11 23:46

Ciao Silvio,
this is an amazingly rich interior, there are so many interesting decorative elements. Sadly of course quite damaged.
I am very impressed with the outcome you achieved in such difficult light conditions.
I wonder whether you have used the tripod. WE don't see any noise here at all which indicates a really good quality and it is very clear and sharp as well.
I think my camera struggles with such limited light.
Excellent work,
M

ChrisJ (171220) 2021-09-12 0:15

Hello Silvio,

Although some of the frescoes and walls are damaged, we still get a good idea of how this old church might once have looked. Good sharpness and lighting too. Tfs!

PaulVDV (62802) 2021-09-12 9:10

Hello Silvio,
We notice various damages. Very unfortunate because this is a fantastic church interior.
There is hardly a square centimeter to be found that has not been decorated.
Excellent clear shot.
Best regards, Paul

ikeharel (112419) 2021-09-13 2:38

A fine photo taken inside the old church, Silvio., superbly used the mild light and frescos shown in vivid outcome.
Arrivederci,
Ike

adramad (72558) 2021-09-13 11:39

Hi Silvio.
Impressive inside of this church that preserves many of its wonderful medieval paintings.
Very nice coloring, in some very attractive tones.
Optimal brightness and sharpness.
Very well done. My friend.
All the best and have a good start to the week.
Luis.

mcmtanyel (67635) 2021-09-13 19:10

Hello Silvio,
Good light management for difficult light. I wonder what they are doing to preserve what remains of the frescoes.
Regards,
MT