The Painted Faces of Matera

At the entrance to a small chapel hewn from the chalky rock of Matera, southern Italy, the remains of three once-colourful faces stare forlornly out from their pitted background. Damaged by both time and visitors, this once-ornate fresco is just one of many that decorate the Rupestran churches of this Unesco-heritage town.

Image dimensions: 4000 x 3000 pixels