St. Mauro
crypt

The San Mauro crypt is currently located beneath the altar of the shrine of St. Anthony of Padua. The place of worship was probably used at first (early Middle Ages) by the Basilian monks officiating with greek rite, and then with the Norman conquest – which took place in 1055 – was used by Benedictine monks. Basilian Monks dedicated the building to St. Basil, later Benedictine dedicated it to St. Mauro. Forgotten, it was rediscovered by a shepherd boy in 1660 and soon canon Lucio Riccardia wanted to build you up on a church. During the seventeenth century it was later used not only as a place of worship and as a charnel Alcantarini by monks who had taken possession of the church and the monastery above. The crypt is rectangular shape. Inside, albeit in poor condition, you can still see some frescoes: the central one represents St. Mauro, the right is the so-called Madonna of the Pomegranate, well executed, while on the left there is a smaller fresco depicts Christ crowned with thorns, Our Lady of Constantinople and St. Joseph.