Cripta del Redentore, Byzantine church and archaeological site in Taranto, Italy
Cripta del Redentore is an underground Byzantine church in Taranto featuring a circular chamber with an 8-meter diameter and decorated walls. A natural water spring runs beneath the structure, which served as both a spiritual space and a practical water source.
The underground church developed in the early medieval period and was rediscovered in 1899 when Luigi Viola found it while cleaning a well. Official inauguration took place in 1900, with later restoration work ensuring its preservation as a Byzantine structure.
The walls feature Byzantine frescoes depicting Christ Pantocrator and saints, offering a window into medieval religious devotion and artistic practice. These paintings show how people of that era expressed their faith through sacred imagery.
The crypt is accessible only through guided tours arranged by the PoliSviluppo Cooperative Society. The underground location requires careful footing and appropriate footwear for uneven stone surfaces.
Local tradition associates the site with Apostle Peter, who according to accounts converted a pagan shrine into a Christian gathering place. This legendary connection links the physical structure to the earliest days of Christianity in the region.
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