Ancient St Michael's Church of the Longobard Age Discovered in Celleno, Italy

Archive documents and experts involved attest that the church had a separate entrance, accessible from the northern slope. However, as early as the end of the 19th century, the bishop ordered the closure of this access, motivated both by its misuse and the difficulty in gaining access. In Celleno, one hours's drive from Rome in Italy, the discovery of the ancient church of San Michele dating back to the Longobard period.

Unexpected revelation in Celleno (VT) during consolidation work on the church of San Donato. Fragmentary archive documents revealed the ancient presence of a church or crypt connected to the mother church of Celleno. The discovery of the precious place of worship dating back to the Longobard period was reported by the mayor of Celleno, Marco Bianchi.

The traces of this sacred place were lost in 1944, when the collapse of the building preceded the fate of the evocative settlement, known today as the Ghost Village of Celleno.

After decades of oblivion and looting, the municipal administration has recently started recovery and valorisation actions, with the aim of preserving part of this historical structure.

Celleno's mayor Marco Bianchi comments: "We are surprised and delighted by this discovery," says the mayor, Marco Bianchi. "We are continuing with the work, hoping to make this space accessible to visitors, in complete safety. Unfortunately, decades of neglect, seismic events, and particular orographic conditions have not helped to save the church, but we are doing everything we can, with the resources at our disposal, to complete the work and increase the Borgo Fantasma's facilities".

Over the past three months, intense archaeological excavation work has been conducted by the engineering company Alma Civita Studio in cooperation with the University of Tuscia, led by Prof. Giuseppe Romagnoli, a tireless scholar of the site.

The progress of the excavations led to the surprising discovery of a lower church, with an unthinkable height of at least five metres. Historical documents and experts confirm that this church had a separate entrance from the northern slope. However, as early as the end of the 19th century, the Bishop closed the access, both for reasons of misuse and because it was difficult to reach.

Comune di Celleno
Piazza della Repubblica, 8
01020 Celleno VT
Italy
sindaco@celleno.it
Tel. +39 0761 912002

More information about Celleno - Il Borgo Fantasma :

Celleno, also known as the "Ghost Town" has been listed by the Telegraph as one of the 25 most beautiful villages in Italy lost in time.The Municipality of Celleno is situated in the Province of Viterbo, on a tuffaceous spur in a strategic position: between Civita di Bagnoregio and Lake Bolsena, just an hour's drive from Rome, and close to Orvieto and the Tuscan border.
Of great importance is the majestic medieval castle located in the village square. The Orsini Castle, once inhabited by a large part of the population, was abandoned after a violent earthquake.

For 40 years the castle was subsequently only inhabited by the internationally renowned artist Enrico Castellani, who died in December 2017. In his workshop-studio in Celleno, Castellani created most of his art, which has spread all over the world and reaches millions of euros per work. Today, visiting the Orsini Castle, it is possible to breathe in the art of the recently discovered Master, together with the uninhabited structure. Celleno is the "Ghost Town" because of its unspoilt beauty, with the Orsini Castle on the tuff cliff (like the nearby Civita di Bagnoregio) and the surrounding green area full of opportunities for slow tourism with various food and wine highlights.

Particularly well known is the Celleno Cherry Festival held every year, with the characteristic "spitting of the hazelnut" with the proclamation of the national winner of whoever has managed to expel the hazelnut the farthest. Celleno is also called 'The Cherry Town' because of its historical tradition of cherry growing and its well-known festival.

Of great attraction is the Festival of street artists "Teverina Buskers" one of the most important events in Italy in this field, with more than 50 artists from all over the world. The next edition will be held in the village of Celleno from 13 to 15 September 2019.

Many artists have visited and noticed Celleno for its beauty and for the start of film projects, such as the recent visit of director Sorrentino.

This release was published on openPR.