| The Angevin nave
Having entered the Romanesque portal that frames the bronze doors we
find ourselves inside the celestial Basilica, in the place chosen by Saint
Michael.
The church, is in two distinct parts: the one as soon as you enter
is constructed in brick-work and called the Angevin Nave, while the other
is in the natural state, a cavern made by nature itself in the calcareous
rock.
The brick-work part presents itself as a nave in Gothic style, divided
in three spans with a cross vault and an apse. Also the advocate for this
construction was Charles I d'Anjou. The project and the work were entrusted
to two masters from Monte Sant'Angelo, Giordano and Maraldo.
The construction of the nave was finished in 1273 or according to others
in 1295.
Before entering the sacred grotto let us stop in the Angevin nave.
On the right we can see the altar dedicated to Saint Francis. Further on in the apse is the altar of the Most Blessed Sacrament. To the left behind an iron door we find the chapel of the relics; beside it, up a few steps are the choir-stalls. |
 |
