The most serious threat to the survival of the Grottoes of San Michele has been the varying levels of groundwater within the cavern, but over the years, high humidity levels, deterioration of the chapel walls, and vandalism have greatly damaged the remarkable medieval church frescoes as well. Microorganisms, like mold, have further compromised the integrity of the priceless paintings. (...)
The most serious threat to the survival of the Grottoes of San Michele has been the varying levels of groundwater within the cavern, but over the years, high humidity levels, deterioration of the chapel walls, and vandalism have greatly damaged the remarkable medieval church frescoes as well. Microorganisms, like mold, have further compromised the integrity of the priceless paintings. When the Grottoes of San Michele were placed on the 1996 World Monuments Watch, the painted layers of plaster were heavily stained and had begun to flake and detach from the walls. A regional conference was organized to discuss the future of the historic cavern soon after it was included on the Watch. After an emergency conservation plan developed, a fundraising campaign was launched in order to raise money for work at the site. In 1998, WMF began a conservation project focusing on the small chapel located immediately to the left of the principle church next to the cave entrance. WMF supported the emergency cleaning and consolidation of the small church’s decorative elements.
