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Visit Matera
“In the Sassi caves is concealed the capital of the
peasants,
its heart hidden in their ancient civilization.
Anyone who sees Matera cannot help but be awe-struck,
so expressive and touching is its sorrowful beauty.”
This
is how Carlo Levi described Matera in
1952, but the artists who became fascinated with the
charming beauty of this city are truly numerous.
Giovanni Pascoli in 1884
said
“Delle città in cui sono stato, Matera è quella che
mi sorride di più, quella che vedo meglio ancora,
attraverso un velo di poesia e malinconia”.
(Of all the cities that I visited, Matera is the one
that smiles at me the most, the one I still see best
through a veil of poetry and melancholy.)
With the passing of the years, the city continues to
provoke astonishment and to stand out for its scenery
which is, according to many, spellbinding. Matera,
named UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1993, has been defined as the only one of its kind due
to its contrasting configuration and scenery.
 It’s
the city of the Caverns, of the Entrenched Villages, of
the peasant houses carved in the rock, of the frescoed
Rocky Churches, of the grand Romanesque, Pugliese and
Baroque Churches and of notable noble Palaces.
It’s the city that geologically calls to mind ancient
Jerusalem and Cappadocia.
It was the destination of many people and their
masterpieces, and continues to be the destination of
great actors and directors who find in Matera a place
made for filming their movies. Mel Gibson said
“In fact the first time I saw it I just went crazy
because it was so perfect”.
These itineraries will help you discover the richness of
Matera and make you realize just how beautiful
it is:
ITINERARIO I -
Reservations
Rocky Church of the Holy Spirit
(10th century BC):
located in the heart of the city center, it was one of
the 7 Benedictine settlements present in the city. From
the 1500s to the 1600s, the old rocky church was
enlarged from the opposite side using tuff construction;
the rest of the church has undergone, over the course of
the centuries, various alterations in order to allow for
more occupancy. In 1880, the same followed in the
middle fondaco (storehouse) and it became totally
enclosed. Today, following work that uncovered the
catacombs, the structure has 3 naves, the one on the
right being square with a cross-shaped vault on massive
rock obtained from the mountain. Today, it is possible
to see some of the frescoes from the 12th Century that
must have, at one time, fully embellished the church.
Piazza Vittorio Veneto:
is the central square in the city, entirely surrounded
by historical mansions from the 1600s and 1700s. It is
worth a stop at Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio with an
incredible view of the Sassi overlooked by the Basilica
Cathedral.
 BASILICA
CATHEDRAL:
from the 13th century BC with a spectacular view of
the Sasso Barisano. It rises from the highest
point of the city, the Civitas hill. The
exterior is in romanesque-pugliese style, the interior
is characterized by invaluable baroque art; the Nativity
Scene in stone created by Altobello Persio and his son
Giulio in 1534 is priceless. The Cathedral is
considered the synthesis of art and faith: art, as the
maximum expression of human capacity; faith, as the
commitment to defy the centuries.
 Walk
in the Sasso Caveoso:
its name comes from cavea and it is one of the
two sections of the Rioni Sassi, completely
carved out of the limestone cliff, where it is possible
to admire reservoirs, ice caves, and
small dwellings. The populated archetype that had
held up for centuries was proclaimed inadequate
according to new hygienic requirements. Therefore, as a
result of the Gasperi Laws of 1921, the people of Matera
abandoned the Sassi dwellings to occupy new housing
built by world-famous city planners and architects:
Piccinato, Aymonino, Quaroni, De Carlo, and Fabbri. In
1993, saved from the risk of demolition, the Sassi were
recognized as a Unesco World Heritage Property. During
your walk, you will be able to admire some of the sites
used by Mel Gibson during the making of the film “The
Passion of the Christ”.
During the course of your walk in the Sasso Caveoso
you will be able to visit the following sites:
 CAVE
HOUSE
typically decorated with furniture and tools of the era
to give an accurate idea of the life of the peasant in
the Sassi houses, as described by Carlo Levi in
the book Christ stopped at Eboli (1946): “They are
caves dug out of the hard clay of the ravine…inside
those black holes, with earthen walls, I saw the beds,
the poor furnishings, the rag spreads. On the floors
were sprawled dogs, sheep, goats, pigs. Each family
had, in general, a single one of these caves for its
entire residence and they all slept here together, men,
women, children and animals. Twenty thousand people
lived in this manner”.
NATURAL CAVERN,
a large natural cave in which there has been no human
intrusion. It is still possible to see the living rock;
the sandstone that has accompanied man’s walk along
these streets.
ROCKY CHURCH OF SAN PIETRO IN MONTERRONE,
entirely carved out of the limestone cliff from the 9th
Century BC, used later as a cellar for wood storage and
as a quarry for construction materials.
ROCKY CHURCHES OF SANTA MARIA DE IDRIS AND SAN GIOVANNI
IN MONTERRONE,
two interconnected Rocky Churches whose principal
characteristic is their suggestive position on the deep
gorge of the rocky precipice. Entirely carved out of
limestone, the interior exhibits frescoes from the 12th
Century BC.
PALAZZO LANFRANCHI:
situated in Piazza Pascoli where it is possible to enjoy
a splendid view of the Sasso Caveoso. Built in
the 17th century and now seat of the Carlo
Levi Foundation, inside you can admire some of his
canvasses, among them the famous painting Lucania ’61
– a great work of art that describes elements of the
life of the peasant woman in Lucania. The same
palace also houses the Museum of Medieval and Modern
Art of Basilicata with works of contemporary artists
and sacred art.
BASILICA CATHEDRAL:
from the 13th century BC with a spectacular view of
the Sasso Barisano. It rises from the highest point of
the city, the Civitas hill. The exterior is in
Romanesque-Pugliese style, the interior is characterized
by invaluable baroque art; the Nativity Scene in stone
created by Altobello Persio and his son Giulio in 1534
is priceless. The Cathedral is considered the synthesis
of art and faith: art, as the maximum expression of
human capacity; faith, as the commitment to defy the
centuries.
PIAZZA DEL SEDILE:
It is a 17th century mansion so-called because since
1540 it has been the seat of the city government
(sedile). On the façade you can see four statues
representing justice, strength, temperance and
prudence.
Piazza Vittorio Veneto:
is the central square in the city, entirely surrounded
by historical mansions from the 1600s and 1700s. It is
worth a stop at Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio with an
incredible view of the Sassi overlooked by the Basilica
Cathedral.
 CHURCH
OF SAINT DOMENICO:
built in the 13th century in Romanesque style, on the
facade is a rose window surmounted by the statue of
Saint Michael the Archangel. The interior is made up of
three naves with lateral altars where you can find 16th
century canvasses by local artists.
CHURCH OF SAN GIOVANNI BATTISTA:
built in 1233, it was originally called Santa Maria
la Nuova. This church embodies the most interesting
display of Romanesque-Materano style. The interior
divided by 8 pillars has a rectangular structure with
three naves.
 DOMENICO
RIDOLA NATIONAL MUSEUM:
Situated in the ancient Clarisse convent complex, it was
established in 1911 following donations of archeological
finds by Senator Domenico Ridola. It is deemed
one of the most interesting museums in Europe from the
standpoint of its prehistoric finds from the
Paleolithic and Neolithic eras and one of the most
interesting in the world regarding the Magna Graecia.
CHURCH OF SANTA CHIARA:
It was built in the 17th century according to the wishes
of Bishop Del Ryos. Together with the adjacent
buildings, today it is the seat of the Domenico
Ridola National Museum. During the previous era it
was first used as a hospital and later as the seat of
the Clarisse convent. The interior, with one nave,
offers Baroque paintings and ornamentation.
CHURCH OF SAINT FRANCESCO D’ASSISI:
built in the first half of the 13th century on the
old Rocky Church of Saints Peter and Paul. The
production of the baroque façade dates back to the
mid-1700s. The interior of the Church is of one nave
with lateral chapels. Behind the altar is contained a
polyptych from the 1600s.
Piazza Vittorio Veneto:
is the central square in the city, entirely surrounded
by historical mansions from the 1600s and 1700s. It is
worth a stop at Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio with an
incredible view of the Sassi overlooked by the Basilica
Cathedral.
Rocky Church of the Holy Spirit
(10th century BC):
located in the heart of the city center, it was one of
the 7 Benedictine settlements present in the city. From
the 1500s to the 1600s, the old rocky church was
enlarged from the opposite side using tuff construction;
the rest of the church has undergone, over the course of
the centuries, various alterations and mutilations in
order to allow for more occupancy. In 1880, the same
followed in the middle fondaco (storehouse) and
it became totally enclosed. Today, following work that
uncovered the catacombs, the structure has 3 naves, the
one on the right being square with a cross-shaped vault
on massive rock obtained from the mountain. Today, it
is possible to see some of the frescoes from the 12th
Century that must have, at one time, fully embellished
the church
WALK IN THE SASSO BARISANO:
the origin of the name could be derived from its
exposure toward the city of Bari or from the presence of
a noble roman family named Varisius, from which
comes Varisianus – Barisano. It extends to the
northwest of the Civita. Its structure appears
to be much newer in respect to the Sasso Caveoso,
only because it was largely reconstructed. In fact, the
renovations of the Sassi began in this section and it
incorporates a large number of hotels, pubs, and
restaurants.
CHURCH OF SAINT AUGUSTINE:
was built at the end of the 1500s. It is above a rocky
crypt dedicated to San Guglielmo (12th
century) and calls to mind a severe baroque style.
MURGICO PLATEAU:
This zone offers visitors various opportunities to get
in touch with the atmosphere, nature and the origins of
the city of Matera. This is a territory occupied
by man since ancient times, with remains dating from the
Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. This territory came
back to life with the hermetic monks of the Middle
ages, where the phenomenon of the Rocky Churches
in the Caves developed behind the Gravina
(rocky precipice) or in totally isolated areas. In this
area you can admire many Neolithic villages
filled with tombs and cisterns. The flora of the
Murgia Materano Regional Park consists of 923
species, which is around a sixth of the entire national
flora and a third of the regional flora: a considerable
number for an area of approximately 8000 hectares
(19,768 acres). The fauna is represented by the
Grillaio Hawk with is characteristic of this area
MADONNA DELLE TRE PORTE
(14th Century): Sanctuary carved out of the rock. With
a rectangular plan, it broadens itself cross-wise. Full
of frescoes, there is a pulpit with three steps on the
back wall.
SANCTUARY OF THE PALOMBA:
its construction dates back to the 16th century. A
rose-window is above the door and between the two is a
high relief sculpture depicting the Holy Family.
The nave ends in an arch embellished with frescoes of
the Madonna Odegidria. |
