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Church of Archangel St Michael in Sermoneta: a thousand years of frescoes and confraternities
The Church of San Michele Arcangelo stands in the oldest part of Sermoneta, wedged between the medieval houses of the town. The first documented record dates back to the 12th century, though tradition links it to an even earlier place of worship. In 2012, it reopened after a long period of closure following extensive restoration work.
A blend of Romanesque and Gothic
The original layout is Romanesque, featuring three naves with an irregular floor plan. Over the centuries, Gothic elements were added: rib vaults, pointed arches, and side chapels. A small portico leads into the central nave. Inside, one can find an 18th-century organ, a 1603 baptistery, and numerous restored frescoes.
The Crypt and the Flagellants
From the left nave, stairs lead down to the crypt, a room entirely decorated with frescoes from the 12th and 15th centuries. In the 16th century, the Oratory of the Battenti was added. This confraternity had extremely strict rules, and its members publicly self-flagellated during processions as an act of penance. Restoration work brought to light a Crucifixion on the back wall, which had remained hidden for centuries under layers of overpainting.
