Il settimo angelo della Basilica della natività di Betlemme è stato ritrovato. Quello che è considerato essere il luogo di nascita di Cristo, e uno dei più importanti della cristianità, era originariamente coperto da 2'000 metri quadrati di mosaici. Di questi, oggi ne sono visibili circa 150. E questo grazie al lavoro di restauro di una ditta italiana di Prato, alla quale si deve anche quest’ultima scoperta.
Il settimo angelo – ritenuto finora perduto – è stato individuato grazie alla tecnica della termografia, che consente di scandagliare superfici solide alla ricerca di opere nascoste sotto di esse.
Sono stati necessari più di 1,5 milioni di tessere per ridare il loro splendore alle immagini che raffigurano angeli, santi e scene classiche raccontate nella Bibbia.
La prossima sfida per gli addetti ai lavori è il recupero di un enorme mosaico che ricopre il pavimento della basilica, visibile in immagini risalenti al secolo scorso.
ansa/mrj
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