San Michele de Murato

The Romanesque church of San Michele de Murato is one kilometer from Murato in Bevinco valley in the north of Corsica. It was built of green serpentine and white limestone blocks, belts and a checkerboard pattern in the late Pisan style and dates from the year 1280 AD Prosper Merimee was it the most elegant church on the island. San Michele de Murato is one of the best preserved Romanesque sacral building in Corsica.

Its main feature is the bichrome masonry with the bizarre change of horizontal bands of serpentine and limestone and the rich sculptural decoration. The unusually high rectangular bell tower, whose front page is based on two extra-long cylindrical columns, whose drums are also made of green and white rock rises on the western façade. In the 19th century, the tower was raised at a restoration. Thus, the balanced architectural proportions were a bit lost.

Arcades, go to their half-round white and green wedge stones, divided the west facade. There are human sculptures at the vaults. Both side facades have two narrow windows. The monolithic Archivolts decorate bas-reliefs. The sills of all windows are decorated with vine leaves and grapes, snakes, birds, stars or braid ornaments. On the northern wall of the temptation of Eve is represented by the snake. On the Bandgesimsen the sills angels, vines, snarling animals and the Lamb of God are shown with the cross. A cornice adorns the completion of the semi-circular apse, to seven of its semi-circular arches are assembled from voussoirs. The white Archivolte the single apse window is staffed with six green wedge stones and two stars from small stones, which makes it look like a brick arch. Under the roof of the apse is a sequence of Bandgesimsen with naive motifs and stylized flower garlands that point in pre-Roman times. They may originate from the earlier church on the site, the present church was built.

In the interior, apse and nave are connected by a doubly projecting arch of green and white stones. The key stone in the center of the arch bears an eagle with spread wings. The bow leg resting on corbels with leaf decoration and human faces. Remains of frescoes date from the 12th century represent the Annunciation