The Angel’s cave

Along the Picentini mountains slopes the Mt. Raione houses the entrance of San Michele Archangel cave. The place was used since the Neolithic period but the first historical data are linked to the IX siècle when it became a natural shelter for the bishop Pietro and, later, venue of pilgrimage. Due to the presence into the cave and its branches of bizantinian frescos, a church and some Martiryas (little chapels) with small courtyard the sanctuary is an unique example of im-portant religious cave in Italy.

The research project was finalized to give a strong base for the restoration and valorisation of the San Michele Site and the surrounding landscape;[5]  in the meanwhile it was a good opportunity to verify an integrated survey process in a low accessibility area in order to evaluate:
1 – the feasibility level of a such extreme condition technological survey;
2 – the instrumental acquisition degree of definition in relations to the mor-phometric level   of detail;
3 – how the survey could help to the configuration of a comparative model aiming to show the degradation process and the loss or modification of the ex-traordinary architectural and artistic heritage;
4 – how the morphometric database could be enquired in order to define further scenarios of conservation and valorisation of the site.