16th-Century Frescoes Discovered in Ronciglione Church Restoration

During the restoration of the Church of San Costanzo in Ronciglione, in the Viterbo area, previously unknown 16th-century frescoes have emerged on the dome. The church, which until a few years ago seemed destined for neglect, was saved by architect Pietro Lateano. Restoration began in 2012 and is now nearing completion. Due to severe degradation and unstable plaster, the recovery operation required meticulous manual intervention, excluding machinery. However, advanced laser technology provided by ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) through its Co.Bra program uncovered layers of later paint to reveal works from the 1500s. The dome revealed angel musicians, which had been covered in the 18th century by a new design, later retouched with tempera. Removing the crust from a 10 cm area took restorers an average of one day, complicated by mold, lichens, and a carbonate patina accumulated over centuries.