A romantic suite near Matera?
Mad Suite offers three romantic suites with a hot tub, allowing you to experience the Lucanian region in complete relaxation.
Our holiday home in Bernalda They are situated in a strategic location between the sea and the mountains; in fact, we are 10 minutes from the coast at Metaponto and around 30 km from the most popular destinations in Basilicata and Puglia: Montescaglioso, Craco, Pisticci, Matera, Tursi, Policoro, Scanzano, Novasiri, Taranto, Ginosa Marina, Castellaneta Marina, Gravina di Puglia, and 65 km from Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Alberobello and Locorotondo.
The town of Bernalda is just a few kilometres from the Pollino National Park and Calabria, not to mention that a 45-minute drive will take you to the beautiful sights of the Potenza area, Pietrapertosa, Castelmezzano, situated in the Lucanian Dolomites, where you can also enjoy a unique experience at Basilicata’s finest attraction, the Flight of the Angel.
But now let’s talk about that beautiful little town in Basilicata, the stunning and unique Matera
Matera (Matàrə in the local dialect) is the capital of the province of the same name and the second-largest city in Basilicata in terms of population, but the largest in terms of area. It borders the municipalities of Montescaglioso, Altamura, Miglionico, Laterza, Santeramo in Colle, Ginosa, Gravina in Puglia and Grottole.
Matera is one of the best-known places in the world, also known by the names City of the Sassi o Underground city, which are derived from the famous Sassi.
In 1663, it separated from the province of Terra d’Otranto, of which it had been a part for centuries, and became the capital of what was then the province of Basilicata in the Kingdom of Naples, a status it held until 1806.
This period in history bears witness to significant economic, commercial and cultural growth in Matera, which was also the the first city in the south to rise up in arms against Nazi-Fascism, He was awarded the Medal for Military Valour for the War of Liberation (silver medal in 1966) and the Medal for Civil Valour (gold medal in 2016).
Physical Geography
The town has a most curious appearance; it is situated in three deep valleys in which, through skilful design, the churches are built upon the dry local stone, towering above the houses, whilst the houses hang below them, so that the living and the dead share the same space. The night-time lights make it look like a starry sky.
By a municipal resolution, on 21 November 1954, it was proclaimed that, Civitas Mariae; Pope John Paul II He visited her on 27 April 1991, describing it as the city of the Visitation and the Magnificat.
On 17 October 2014, it was designated as the European Capital of Culture for 2019 (along with Plovdiv in Bulgaria).
The Sassi
Known as the “City of the Sassi” and the “Underground City”, it is famous precisely for its Sassi districts, which make it one of the oldest cities in the world that is still inhabited.
And, partly for this reason, on 9 December 1993, the assembly in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) recognised them as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making them the first site in southern Italy to be included on the list.
For more information on the Sassi, click HERE.
What people say about her…
The town has a most curious appearance; it is situated in three deep valleys in which, through skilful design, the churches are built upon the dry local stone, towering above the houses, whilst the houses hang below them, so that the living and the dead share the same space. The night-time lights make it look like a starry sky.
(Giovan Battista Pacichelli, *The Kingdom of Naples in Perspective*)
La Gravina
The town lies in the west of the region, at an altitude of 401 metres above sea level, bordering the south-western part of the metropolitan city (and regional capital of Apulia) of Bari (with the municipalities of Altamura, Gravina in Puglia and Santeramo in Colle) and the far north-western part of the province of Taranto (with the municipalities of Ginosa and Laterza).
It lies on the extension of the Murge plateau to the east and the Bradanica trough to the west, through which the River Bradano flows; its course is blocked by a dam dating from the 1950s, built for irrigation purposes. §The resulting artificial lake (Lake San Giuliano) forms part of a regional nature reserve known as San Giuliano Nature Reserve.
The Gravina di Matera, a left-bank tributary of the Bradano, flows through the deep natural ravine that separates the city’s two historic districts: Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso.
On the other side lies the Murgia, part of which forms part of the Regional Archaeological, Historical and Natural Park of the Rock-Cut Churches, also known as the Murgia Materana Park.
Stone buildings, cisterns and water collection systems are what make Matera so distinctive. These are ancient clusters of houses carved out of calcarenite, nestled against a deep ravine, the “Gravina”. In the countryside Near Timmari there is also a newly formed mud volcano.
Etymology
Some theories (including that of Cely Colajanni) suggest that Matera was known by the Greeks in ancient times as Mataia ole (from Mataio Olos, (with no particular meaning), referring to the ‘gravina’, a ravine through which streams flow; another theory suggests that the name derives from Mata (pile of rocks), a root used in various geographical names.
A third, rather fanciful, theory attributes the origin of the name to the Greek term Meteoron (starry sky) because some writers of the past, observing the Sassi illuminated at night, described them as a reflection of the starry sky above
And there are certainly those who link the place name to Mater (Mother Earth), to Subject (matheria) or Subjects: all referring to timber for cutting or construction, in reference to the wooded areas in which the town was situated.
In fact, it was wrongly derived from the Latin subject, because these are, at their core, terms that denote the land of the ravine; -eria is a term meaning “ditch, ravine”: Akkadian ḫāru, ḫarru, ḫarû (to dig deep).
Junction of mātu using the Akkadian base. matāḫu (to rise).
The Kittens links the place name to the Hebrew terms Matterah (prison) or Me terah (pure water).
Others argue that that the name derives from the initials by Metaponto and Heraclea, as it had taken in refugees from both cities following their destruction.
Last but not least: Mateola, the ancient name of the town, which is thought to derive from from the Roman consulate of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus, who rebuilt it, surrounding it with walls and tall towers, or from “high ground”: matu, from the Aramaic mata (earth) and elû (high).
Pliny the Elder in his Natural History (Book III, 105) He called the inhabitants Mateolani of the city and them he listed amongst the Apulians, even though the ending of the adjective ending in -anus clearly highlights the iThe Oscan influence on the Lucanians, since the The town was situated right on the border between Apulia and Lucania in the region formerly known as Peucezia.
Coat of arms
The description on the Italian local authorities’ website reads as follows:
Azure, a standing ox argent holding three ears of corn in its mouth and bearing a crown of lilies on its horns, surmounted at the top by the letter M, all in gold. Motto: Bos Lassus Firmius Figit Pedem.
The Latin motto A weary man takes firmer steps can be translated as:
The weary ox plants its hoof more firmly.
Even a peaceful people can rise up against oppression, if subjected to repeated abuses. (A subtle allusion to the Matera rebellion against oppression and excessive taxes, which led to the assassination of Count Giovan Carlo Tramontano and, indeed, to the coining of this very phrase).
Racioppi believes that Matera’s coat of arms is a talking weapon. The letter “M” at the top is said to be the first letter of the city’s name; the ears of corn in the ox’s mouth are said to make up the rest of the name: the Greek word for ‘ear of corn’ is Ather-Eros, so the combination of the words would form Mather-Eros, and then Matera.
The crown on the ox’s head would suggest that the town was free, that is to say, not subject to any feudal lord but directly to the royal crown.
The M For some, however, it is said to mean town halland since Matera was part of the Royal Domain, and therefore directly under the King’s authority. This also explains the presence of the princely crown above the ox’s head. The figure of the ox remains the most difficult to interpret.
According to other interpretations, the shield bears, in the upper part of the field, the letter M in gold on a silver background; and in the lower part of the field is an ox – which heraldists refer to as “passant” – holding three ears of corn in its mouth. The ox’s head is surmounted by a princely crown. Running around the edge of the shield is a band bearing the motto “Bos lassus firmius figit pedem”.
Some people believe that the ox symbolises the the Del Balzo family, from French baux, which sounds very similar to the word ‘bue’.
Others firmly believe that the ox and the ears of corn symbolise the ownership of fertile land used for sheep farming and agriculture. The ears of corn, on the other hand, bear a certain resemblance to those found on Metapontine coins, which lends further credence to the theory that the name ‘Matera’ derives from the city’s founders – the citizens of Metaponto and Heraclea who had fled from the Romans.
Honours
Matera is one of the towns honoured for military valour in the War of Liberation, for which it was awarded the Silver Medal for Military Valour in recognition of the sacrifices made by its people during the Second World War. This honour was conferred on 1 September 1966 and presented three years later by the Minister of Defence, who pinned the medal to the city’s banner and unveiled a plaque bearing the following inscription:
Matera, the first city in Southern Italy to take up arms against Nazi-Fascism, holds up the epic sacrifice of 21 September 1943 as an example to present and future generations, so that they may remember and know how to defend, with equal dignity and resolve, freedom and the dignity of conscience against all forms of oppression and injustice
Silver Medal for Military Valour – ribbon for everyday uniform Silver Medal for Military Valour
Outraged by the enemy’s numerous acts of oppression, groups of citizens rose up against the oppressor and fought fiercely, despite having few weapons and little ammunition, for several hours, without wavering and heedless of their losses. Bolstered by a fervent love of their country, with courage and daring, they forced the enemy – with the aid of military units – to abandon the city before the arrival of the Allied troops. City of Matera, 21 September 1943
Gold Medal for Civil Valour – ribbon for everyday uniform Gold Medal for Civil Valour
During the final days of the Germans’ occupation of the city, the people of Matera – increasingly exasperated by the destruction, looting and abuses committed by the invaders as they prepared to retreat – carried out acts of heroism and self-sacrifice to counter the violence perpetrated by the occupiers, both in the town centre and in the countryside, which led to round-ups and numerous innocent victims. A splendid example of community spirit and a noble humanitarian ethos, aimed at upholding the values of freedom and justice. September 1943 – Matera
The Giorgio La Pira Award from the Metropolitan City of Florence
For its ability to engage with the international community, for its determination and openness to change. For its tenacity in challenging cultural stereotypes, which has earned it designation as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site and as the European Capital of Culture for 2019. In particular, for the joint commitment of citizens, organisations and institutions to inclusive initiatives and projects that make it one of the cities symbolising an integrated cultural system
Monuments and places of interest
The Sassi of Matera
«Anyone who sees Matera cannot fail to be moved by it, so expressive and poignant is its sorrowful beauty.»
(Carlo Levi)
Matera is also known as the ‘City of the Sassi’, precisely because of the distinctive and unique nature of its historic centre. Carved out and built against the Gravina di Matera, a deep gorge that divides the area in two, the Sassi di Matera – the neighbourhoods that make up the old part of the city – stretch across two small valleys facing east, lying slightly lower than the surrounding land, separated from one another by the rocky spur of the Civita.
The Sasso Barisano, situated to the north-west on the edge of the cliff – taking Civita, the heart of the old town, as a reference point – is the area with the greatest number of carved portals and friezes concealing its underground heart. The Sasso Caveoso, which faces south, is situated on a wider but shorter ridge and vaguely resembles a theatre auditorium.
At the centre lies the Civita, a rocky outcrop separating the two Sassi, on top of which stand the Cathedral and the noble palaces. Together, they form the historic town centre of Matera, designated by UNESCO as a cultural landscape.
The Sassi of Matera are an urban settlement that has evolved from the various forms of civilisation and human settlement that have succeeded one another over time. From the prehistoric fortified villages of the Neolithic period, to the rock-dwelling settlements (9th–11th centuries), which form the urban foundation of the Sassi, with their neighbourhoods, walkways, drainage systems and cisterns; through to the Norman-Swabian ‘civitas’ (11th–13th centuries), with its fortifications, the subsequent Renaissance expansions (15th–16th centuries) and Baroque urban developments (17th–18th centuries); and finally, from the social and sanitary decline of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century to the compulsory evacuation ordered by national law in the 1950s, right up to the current restoration programme initiated by the 1986 Act.
In 2017, the State Mint issued a limited-edition 10-euro silver coin commemorating the Sassi di Matera.
Water tanks and water collection systems
Although the choice of this site ensured the settlement was extremely secure, it caused its inhabitants enormous difficulties in obtaining water. In fact, the Sassi are situated on a vast calcarenite bank some 150 metres above the level of the stream, whilst the clay hills surrounding them to the west are too far away to ensure a water supply in the event of a siege.
As far back as the Neolithic period, there is evidence that the people of Matera exploited the friability of the rock and its natural fissures to their advantage, building a complex system of water channels that fed into an extensive network of cisterns and “palombari”.
From this point of view, Matera is regarded as one of the best-preserved and oldest examples of bio-architecture in the world.
According to studies on settlements that have developed around bodies of water, the most ancient civilisations and building traditions always share certain common features, regardless of the distance between them or the historical period in which they emerged.
Structures that appear simple and rudimentary turn out to be marvels of technical efficiency. These humble, archaic techniques, long forgotten even by the inhabitants themselves, take on a charm and value that were once unimaginable.
Religious architecture
- Cathedral
- Rock-cut church
- Church of St Augustine
- Church of St Clare
- Church of San Pietro Caveoso
- Church of St Francis of Assisi
- Church of St John the Baptist
Civil engineering
- Palazzo dell’Annunziata
- Palazzo del Sedile
- Palazzo Lanfranchi: A 17th-century monument commissioned by Friar Francesco da Copertino at the behest of Bishop Vincenzo Lanfranchi between 1668 and 1672. It originally housed the diocesan seminary, whilst it is now home to the National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata, as well as the offices of the Superintendency for Artistic and Historical Heritage of Basilicata.
- Palazzo dell’Annunziata: An 18th-century building situated in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, overlooking the town’s central square. It was originally used as a Dominican convent, before being converted into a courthouse in 1865 and subsequently into a secondary school. The building currently houses the media centre and the Tommaso Stigliani Provincial Library, as well as the municipal cinema.
- Palazzo del Sedile: Situated in the central square of the same name, it was built in 1540 and renovated in 1759; it is home to the First Section of the “Egidio Romualdo Duni” Conservatoire of Music and the Gervasio Auditorium. The façade features two bell towers and is adorned with six statues.
- Governor’s Palace: It overlooks the same square and dates back to the 17th century. It was the first seat of the Royal Court of Basilicata, whilst its cellars served as the town’s prison. This bears no relation to its current use, as it has since been converted into a hotel.
- Bernardini Palace which overlooks the Sasso Caveoso.
- Palazzo Gattini, located in Piazza Duomo.
- Malvinni-Malvezzi Palace, also situated in Piazza Duomo, once belonged to the family of the Dukes of Santa Candida. The main floor houses fourteen exquisitely crafted paintings and Louis XVI-style furnishings.
- Palazzo Bronzini, dating from the 18th century, situated on the corner of Piazza del Sedile and Via Duomo.
- Palazzo Ridola, on Via Duomo.
- Palazzo di Castro Vetere, Despite having changed hands several times over the years (there have been around 25 such changes), the ancient palace still retains its original layout in Vico Campanile, where it stands alongside the old church of San Nicola in Castiglione. It is worth noting the coat of arms near the stairs, which probably belonged to the Palmieri family, who held the bishopric of Matera from 1483 to 1530[35].
- Palazzo Venusio, A nobleman’s mansion in Matera, built on Via S. Potito in the 16th century.
- The underground passages of Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Located beneath the town’s main square and unearthed just a few years ago, they contain not only numerous underground chambers but also an ancient cistern, known as the ‘Palombaro lungo’, and a tower forming part of the walls which must once have stood close to Tramontano Castle.
- Ferdinand’s Fountain, Restored by King Ferdinand II of Bourbon in 1832, it was originally situated at the foot of the castle hill and collected water flowing down from that hill. After the Second World War, having served its purpose as a water supply, it was moved to the municipal park. In April 2009, following restoration work, it was returned to its original location in Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
- Villa Longo, a 19th-century residence belonging to a noble family from Matera with ancient Neapolitan origins.
Military architecture
Tramontano Castle
Tramontano Castle, built in the Aragonese style with a central keep and two round side towers, remained unfinished following the murder of Count Giovan Carlo Tramontano by the local population in 1514.
Torre Metellana, Situated in Sasso Barisano, it forms part of the defensive walls surrounding the “Civita”.
Archaeological sites
One archaeological site is situated on the hill of Timmari, where numerous artefacts have been discovered, dating from both prehistoric times and the Apulian period of the 4th century BC. (including a tomb containing a wealth of funerary objects), many of which are housed in the “Domenico Ridola” Archaeological Museum.
Various remains of fortified Neolithic villages and Bronze Age cemeteries can be found throughout the Murgia Materana region[36].
Natural areas
Murgia Materana Park
The Murgia Materana Regional Park, established in 1990, encompasses the Gravina di Matera area, the rock-hewn churches scattered along the slopes of the ravines, and the Murgia Materana plateau. Of particular note are the numerous farmhouses, many of which are fortified. The symbol of the park is the lesser kestrel, a small bird of prey found in the Matera area in very large numbers.
The San Giuliano Regional Nature Reserve, a protected area established in 2000, comprises Lake San Giuliano – an artificial reservoir created by the damming of the River Bradano – and the stretches of the river both upstream and downstream. The area is home to a particularly significant bird population.
Colle di Timmari, A green oasis situated about 15 km from the city, it overlooks the Bradano Valley and Lake San Giuliano. It is a pleasant residential area, and at the top of the hill stands the small Sanctuary of San Salvatore, dating back to 1310, as well as an important archaeological site.
Urban parks
- Castello Park – Via Castello
- John Paul II Park – Via Lucana, on the corner of Via Gramsci
- Villa dell’Unità d’Italia – Via XX Settembre, on the corner of Via Tommaso Stigliani
- Central Park
- Giovanni Falcone Park – Via IV Novembre
- Serra Venerdì Woodland Park
- Parco dei Quattro Evangelisti – PAIP area
- Lanera Neighbourhood Park
The dialect: u matarràsë
This dialect belongs to the group of central southern dialects and shares close affinities with the Apulian dialect group, particularly with the Bari dialect and, to a lesser extent, with the Taranto dialect. It does, however, retain certain distinctive features, such as the almost total absence of vowel sounds in certain words and instances of vowel inversion compared with standard Italian.
Typical proverbs:
«Ci sckëjtë ‘ngjlë ‘mboccë së chegghjë» («If you spit into the sky, it’ll land on your face»)
«Ci s’ avondë silë silë na mmelë monghë në fasilë» («Someone who boasts all on their own isn’t worth even a bean»)
«Tie the donkey where the master wants‘ (‘Tie the donkey where the master wants»)«
Typical exclamations:
«Mo mèrië!» – literally «I’m dying!», an exclamation of exhaustion or pain, a cry for help.
«Egghia!» – short for “mannegghia”; in its shortened form, it is an exclamation of astonishment. It is worth noting that “mannegghia” is simply the dialectal form of the expression “mannaggia”, which in turn derives from “mal n’aggia”, that is, from “mal ne aggia”, which comes from ‘mal ne abbia’.
«Gistëjzzë!» – literally «Justice!», blimey! An abbreviation of «Gistjëzzë të vò bbënìë!», an exclamation meaning «May you have a stroke!».
«Mogghià’Ddëjë!» – literally «God forbid!», heaven forbid!
Religion
Matera has been a bishopric since the 10th century.
For years it was even an archdiocese, under Byzantine influence, until it was merged with that of Acerenza by papal bull in 1203. The archdiocese comprises 52 parishes across 13 municipalities.
In fact, two Popes have visited Matera: Urban II and Saint John Paul II; a third, however, was actually its metropolitan archbishop: Urban VI. The latter, drawing on the festival in honour of Our Lady of Bruna, which has been celebrated in the city since time immemorial, established the Feast of the Visitation to be held on 2 July.
This festival is still celebrated today, not only in Matera but also in Siena and Enna on that date, although the official festival has been moved to 31 May.
Protectors of the city
- The Our Lady of Bruna
- Saint Eustace: According to legend, during a siege of the city by the Saracens around the year 1000, the saint saved the city by making the enemy believe that hundreds of knights, led by himself, had appeared, causing them to flee.
The town is the birthplace of two saints: Saint John of Matera e Saint Ilario, and a blessed woman; the Blessed Eugenia of Matera.
In the Matera countryside, amongst others, there are still two shrines in use; the Shrine of St Mary of Picciano and the Shrine of St Mary of Palomba.
The historian G. Gattini recounts that there was an engraving, predating the late Baroque renovation, on the Gothic façade of the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Matera, which indicated that the church had been commissioned by the saint himself (since the historian lived in the 19th century, there are in fact no authoritative sources from that period). According to the account, St Francis stopped in Matera whilst travelling eastwards and asked for a site outside the city walls on which to build a church. When his request was refused, accompanied by a counter-proposal, Francis, however, declined.
In addition to Christianity, there are religious minorities consisting mainly of Orthodox Christians and Muslims.
Traditions and folklore
The Triumphal Float of the Madonna della Bruna
The patron saint’s festival of the same name has been celebrated on 2 July since as far back as 1389; according to tradition, a papier-mâché triumphal float – which is rebuilt every year – is destroyed during the festivities.
The Living Nativity Scene in the Sassi of Matera
It was launched in the 1970s by the Matera Theatre Group, but was subsequently suspended. The suspension lasted until December 2010, when it was revived by the National Union of Italian Pro Loco Associations and the Basilicata Region.
The Matera Nativity Scene is considered the largest in the world; given the presence of several hundred participants along a 700-metre route, it is regarded as the world’s largest living nativity scene. The Way of the Cross also takes place in the Sassi[43].
La Crapiata
It is celebrated on 1 August: ‘crapiata’ is a soup made from pulses and grains, with which the year’s harvest is celebrated; once held in the Sassi, it is now celebrated in the village of La Martella.
A traditional part of the carnival celebrations are the ‘matinate’[46], folk songs sung whilst going from door to door, in which music and merriment were brought to the homes of relatives and acquaintances.
The pizzica
It is Matera’s traditional dance, a legacy of the city’s Apulian past and one which still today symbolises the strong bond between Matera and Apulia. This dance remains very popular to this day; indeed, there are several local folk dance groups that still perform it today.
Culture
Matera, with its places of interest, its folk traditions and the various events that take place throughout the year, offers a rather wide and varied cultural programme. The city is also a member of the Association of Cities of Art and Culture[47] and was the first city in the world to be recognised as a cultural landscape.
European Capital of Culture 2019
Having put itself forward as a candidate in 2008, Matera was designated on 17 October 2014 as the European Capital of Culture for 2019[48], alongside the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv. It is the fourth Italian city (after Bologna, Florence and Genoa), and the first in Southern Italy, to receive this honour, having been shortlisted alongside five other Italian cities: Cagliari, Lecce, Perugia, Ravenna and Siena.
The verdict was announced by Steve Green, chair of the 13-member International Selection Jury (comprising six Italians and seven foreign members), to Dario Franceschini, Minister for Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism (Mibact);
The slogan chosen by Matera for its bid was
Open future
Education
Matera welcomes numerous students from neighbouring municipalities. Of particular note is the main and historic educational institution, the “Istituto d’Istruzione Superiore E. Duni-C. Levi”, which was inaugurated in 1864 and subsequently renamed the Regio Liceo ginnasio Emanuele Duni di Matera in 1882. It was precisely during the two-year period 1882–1883 that Giovanni Pascoli was counted amongst the distinguished teachers, holding a chair in Latin and Greek.
University of Basilicata
The town is home to one of the two campuses of the University of Basilicata, which houses the Department of European and Mediterranean Cultures (DICEM).
Higher Institute for Conservation and Restoration
Matera is home to the second of the ISCR’s two campuses, situated at the Convent of Santa Lucia la Nova and named after Michele d’Elia, who served as director from 1987 to 1991; which has been operational since the 2015/2016 academic year and was inaugurated by the Minister for Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Dario Franceschini, in 2017; it is the only institute for conservation and restoration in southern Italy.
Search
The ASI’s Giuseppe Colombo Centre for Space Geodesy has been operating in Matera since 1983, following a joint initiative by the CNR, the Basilicata Region and NASA. The centre specialises in Earth observation using advanced space technologies.
It now fully reflects its evolution: a facility covering over 5,000 m² with a hundred employees and an annual budget of around 10 million euros. It has now become one of the leading research and technology transfer centres in Southern Italy.
Focusing primarily on space geodesy and remote sensing, the CGS (Centre for Space Geodesy) has recently been expanding into other fields, foremost among which are space robotics and interplanetary missions; all activities are carried out within a framework of international collaboration.
Telespazio has been responsible for operational management since 1983. An agreement was recently reached between the Italian Space Agency and the Basilicata Region to expand the centre’s activities, with the establishment of a space hub.
Museums
Domenico Ridola National Archaeological Museum
It houses artefacts originating mainly from the Matera area and is of particular interest for the study of prehistory in southern Italy and for understanding the indigenous cultures and peoples (the Oenotrians and Lucanians) who came into contact with the Greek colonies on the Ionian coast.
It contains:
- the prehistoric section (which is also the museum’s most characteristic section)
- the Bradano Valley Hall
- the Basento Valley Hall
- The ‘Matera and Surroundings’ Room
- the Ridola Room (which houses documents relating to the work of Domenico Ridola, a doctor and archaeologist from Matera and the museum’s founder).
Palazzo Lanfranchi
Home to the National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata.
National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art
Housed in the 17th-century Palazzo Lanfranchi. It is divided into four sections:
- sacred art
- collecting
- contemporary art
- Ethno-anthropological section
and on display there are paintings by a number of important artists such as
- Luca Giordano
- Carlo Levi
- Abraham Brueghel
- Giovan Battista Ruoppolo
- Mattia Preti
the last three from Camillo D’Errico’s collection.
MUSMA – Museum of Contemporary Sculpture, Matera
Hosted by Palazzo Pomarici: a vast 17th-century building situated in the Sassi, dedicated to works that trace the history of sculpture from the late 19th century to the present day.
Museum and workshop of rural life
Which houses objects and tools from the traditional trades of the Sassi.
Diocesan Museum
A recent addition, having only opened in 2011, it is housed in the former seminary building; it extends over three rooms in which they are displayed works dating from the 11th to the 19th century, including
- a Byzantine pectoral cross dating from the mid-11th century
- the arm-shaped reliquary of Saint Eustace
- the reliquary of Saint John of Matera
the last two date from the 15th century.
“General Ignazio Pisciotta” Historical Museum”
This book tells the story of the two world wars; of the various periods of Italian colonial warfare, as well as of the Risorgimento and the Resistance in the city of Matera, given the city’s involvement in these events.
Water Collection Museum
It is housed in the deconsecrated churches of San Giovanni da Matera and Purgatorio Vecchio, with the Palombaro situated beneath them – the public water reservoir of Sasso Caveoso.
Casagrotta in Vico Solitario
An ancient dwelling carved into the rock, furnished in traditional style, situated in the Sasso Caveoso.
Ortega’s house
Housed in a Lombard fort in the Sasso Barisano, it features twenty polychrome bas-reliefs created by the Spanish painter José Ortega in the 1970s whilst he was staying in the city of the Sassi, as well as ceramics and local handicrafts.
La Palomba Sculpture Park
It is situated in the village of La Palomba in a disused open-air tuff quarry, within the Archaeological, Historical and Natural Park of the Rock-Cut Churches of Matera; it was created by the sculptor Antonio Paradiso.
Media
In the late 1970s, the radio and television broadcaster TRM was founded, which created a number of cultural programmes that revitalised the city. Between the 1980s and the 1990s, the broadcaster Tele Basilicata Matera – TBM – which later moved to Taranto, is also worth mentioning.
As for radio stations, Matera is home to Radio Radiosa, which broadcasts in the city on the frequency 98.500 MHz and, as well as playing music, covers local and national news.
Cinema
To date, including films and TV dramas, the productions filmed wholly or partly in the municipality of Matera are
- 1949: Something Has Changed in Southern Italy, a documentary directed by Carlo Lizzani.
- 1950: *Le due sorelle*, directed by Mario Volpe.
- 1953: *La lupa*, directed by Alberto Lattuada.
- 1961: *Italia ’61*, a documentary directed by Jan Lenica.
- 1962: The Roaring Years, directed by Luigi Zampa, starring Nino Manfredi, Gino Cervi, Gastone Moschin and Salvo Randone
- 1963: *The Devil*, directed by Brunello Rondi.
- 1964: *The Gospel According to St Matthew*, directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini.
- 1965: *Made in Italy*, an anthology film, directed by Nanni Loy.
- 1967: Once Upon a Time…, directed by Francesco Rosi, starring Omar Sharif and Sophia Loren.
- 1972: *The Black Decameron*, directed by Piero Vivarelli.
- 1974: *Allonsanfàn*, directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, starring Marcello Mastroianni and Lea Massari.
- 1974: The Time of Beginnings, directed by Luigi Di Gianni.
- 1975: *The Tree of Guernica*, directed by Fernando Arrabal, starring Mariangela Melato.
- 1975: *Qui comincia l’avventura*, directed by Carlo Di Palma, starring Monica Vitti and Claudia Cardinale.
- 1978: *Volunteers to an Unknown Destination*, directed by Alberto Negrin, starring Michele Placido.
- 1979: *Christ Stopped at Eboli*, directed by Francesco Rosi, starring Gian Maria Volonté.
- 1981: Three Brothers, directed by Francesco Rosi.
- 1985: King David, starring Richard Gere.
- 1990: *The Sun Even at Night*, directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani.
- 1995: *The Man from the Stars*, directed by Giuseppe Tornatore.
- 1998: *Del perduto amore*, directed by and starring Michele Placido.
- 1999: *Terra bruciata*, directed by Fabio Segatori, starring Giancarlo Giannini and Raul Bova.
- 2004: *The Passion of the Christ*, directed by Mel Gibson, starring Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci.
- 2005: *Mary*, directed by Abel Ferrara, starring Juliette Binoche and Forest Whitaker.
- 2006: *Il rabdomante*, directed by Fabrizio Cattani, starring Andrea Osvárt, Riccardo Zinna, Lucianna De Falco, Massimo Sarchielli, Pascal Zullino and Nando Irene.
- 2006: Omen, directed by John Moore.
- 2006: *The Grotesque Side of Life*, directed by Federica Di Giacomo, winner of the Cipputi Prize at the Turin Film Festival.
- 2006: *Nativity*, directed by Catherine Hardwicke.
- 2006: *Artemisia Sanchez*, a TV drama directed by Ambrogio Lo Giudice, starring Fabio Fulco and Lucio Dalla.
- 2008: Paul VI – The Pope in the Storm, directed by Fabrizio Costa and starring Fabrizio Gifuni.
- 2010: Crimini (season two) – Episode “Bestie”, directed by Andrea Manni, starring Pietro Taricone, Christiane Filangieri and Tomas Arana.
- 2011: *Passannante*, directed by Sergio Colabona, starring Fabio Troiano, Ulderico Pesce, Andrea Satta, Alberto Gimignani and Luca Lionello.
- 2012: *The Mafia Accountant*, directed by Federico Rizzo, starring Lorenzo Flaherty, Tony Sperandeo, Ernesto Mahieux and Nando Irene.
- 2015: *Noi e la Giulia*, directed by Edoardo Leo, starring Luca Argentero, Stefano Fresi and Claudio Amendola.
- 2015: Let’s Get Married, directed by Liu Jiang, starring Gao Yuanyuan and Jiang Wu.
- 2016: *Ben-Hur*, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, starring Jack Huston and Morgan Freeman
- 2016: *The Young Messiah*, directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, starring Sean Bean and David Bradley
- 2016: Fast as the Wind, directed by Matteo Rovere, starring Stefano Accorsi and Matilda De Angelis
- 2017: *Sorelle*, directed by Cinzia TH Torrini, starring Anna Valle and Loretta Goggi
- 2017: *Wonder Woman*, directed by Patty Jenkins, starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine
- 2018: *Mary Magdalene*, directed by Garth Davis, starring Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix
- 2018: The King’s Musketeers – The Penultimate Mission, directed by Giovanni Veronesi, starring Pierfrancesco Favino and Rocco Papaleo
- 2019: Imma Tataranni – Deputy Public Prosecutor, directed by Francesco Amato, starring Vanessa Scalera and Massimiliano Gallo
Matera appears in the music video of the tracks:
- 2014: *Sun Goes Down*, by Robin Schulz[61]
- 2016: *Spit Out the Bone* by Metallica[62]
- 2017: *La felicità*, by Fabrizio Moro[63]
Episodes 3, 4 and 5 of the D.Gray-man anime, entitled ‘The Ghost of Matera’. The air of the old man of the earth and the night of the sky e Play me a lullaby are set in 19th-century Matera.
Theatre
- Duni Cinema and Theatre
- Theatre companies
There are several theatre companies and drama schools operating in the city, such as “Radici Teatro”, the Teatro dei Sassi, the Hermes Teatro Laboratorio, the Skené Centre for Theatre Culture, the Gruppo Teatro Matera,Talìa Teatro, as well as dialect theatre companies such as Il Sipario, the Teatro del Carro Parlante, the Compagnia del Teatro Povero and the Teatro fatto in casa. [Clarify relevance. Sources?]
Music
Materan Polyphonic Choir “Pierluigi da Palestrina”: founded in 1944 and still active today. Every year, it organises the Petra Matrix choral festival, which takes place in the historic and rock-hewn churches of the old town and the Sassi.
Music groups: In Matera there are several bands playing a variety of genres, including the rock band Le Mani, whose members are originally from the city of the Sassi.
Egidio Romualdo Duni Conservatoire (Institution of Higher Culture)[66].
L.A.M.S. – Laboratorio Arte Musica e Spettacolo, a non-profit organisation, has been active since 1989 in three areas: 1. Concert activities with the Matera Chamber Orchestra and the Rosa Ponselle Polyphonic Choir; 2. The Rosa Ponselle Music Academy, which organises standard, pre-academic and advanced music courses; promotion of young talent through the organisation of the ‘Città di Matera’ Music Performance Competition and the International Music Composition Competition.
The 1950s
The main features of the new city’s first neighbourhoods were extensive communal green spaces and low-rise buildings, in an attempt to replicate as closely as possible the social way of life found in the Sassi; during those years, thanks in part to the involvement of Adriano Olivetti – then President of the Institute of Urban Planning and Vice-President of UNRRA Casas (the United Nations agency responsible for providing economic and civil assistance to populations affected by the war) – the leading figures in Italian architecture turned their attention to the city of Matera, transforming it into a veritable open-air laboratory.
The rural settlement of La Martella was established – a project of great architectural significance within the Neorealist movement of Italian Rationalism, inaugurated on 17 May 1953 by Alcide De Gasperi and designed by the architect Ludovico Quaroni; Serra Venerdì, the first urban development to be inaugurated in 1956, built following the Special Act and designed by the architect Luigi Piccinato, who was also the author of the city’s first Master Plan; the Lanera district (1957), situated on one of the city’s highest hills, designed by engineer Marcello Fabbri and architect Coppa; the Spine Bianche district (1957), built entirely of terracotta, with the parish church and amenities at the heart of the neighbourhood, designed by the architect Carlo Aymonino; further on, the Villalongo district, built on the initiative of INA-Casa; the Agna district, which began as a rural hamlet before merging with the rest of the city, featuring single-storey houses surrounded by farmland, designed by the Civil Engineering Department; the Platani, San Giacomo and Serra Rifusa districts, the Pini district and the more recent ones.
The 1990s
The city’s previous steady pattern of urban development gave way, from the 1990s onwards, to a more haphazard trend, giving rise to new built-up areas characterised by buildings of disproportionate height. Added to this situation were: a reduction in green spaces, a narrowing of road carriageways, and a frequent failure to complete infrastructure works.
Thus, whilst the city continued to expand in two opposite directions with the new districts of Matera 2000, Aquarium and Agna Le Piane, the two main examples of this upwards-oriented urbanisation also came into being: the Business Centre, behind the town hall, and Zone 33 on Via La Martella. At the centre of the latter stands the so-called Via La Martella skyscraper, a 14-storey building (plus two partially underground storeys). The building stands at 340 metres above sea level and symbolises the encroachment of the new city at the expense of the rural farmland that once extended right into the city itself.
Economy
Agriculture and local specialities
Matera has always been an agricultural centre and is famous for the cultivation of cereals, particularly durum wheat, and the production of pasta, bread (Matera bread PGI), olive oil and wine (Matera DOC wines). The city is a member of the National Association of Bread Cities[76], reflecting its ancient tradition of bread-making – one of the main staples of the Matera region – and since 2012 it has also been a member of the National Association of Olive Oil Cities. Traditional Matera cuisine is closely linked to the agricultural and pastoral traditions of the region and, in addition to the products mentioned above, includes dishes based on pulses (such as the traditional soup known as ‘crapiata’), cheeses, cured meats and meat dishes (including the typical ‘agnello a cutturidd’ and ‘pecora alla pignata’). The finest recipes of Matera’s cuisine include orecchiette alla Materana, tagliatelle with breadcrumbs, cotechinata, fried pork, pulljata, bread baked with turnips, white broad beans and chicory, panaredda (a traditional Easter dessert), cartellate and pettole, which are associated with the Christmas festivities[77].
Industry
In recent decades, the traditional primary sector has been joined by the industrial sector, with Matera, together with the Apulian towns of Altamura and Santeramo in Colle, forming an industrial hub where both the railway industry – with Ferrosud – and the so-called ‘salotto’ cluster have developed.
This definition stems from the strong industrial growth that took place during the 1980s and 1990s, which enabled the development of many companies specialising in the manufacture of living room furniture, primarily sofas. Among the best-known companies in the sector are Natuzzi (Divani & Divani), Nicoletti and Calia.
The positive trend in production seen in the late 1990s has slowed considerably with the growth of Asian markets, which are now the main competitors and the places to which Matera’s furniture manufacturers are relocating their operations.
The downward trend in Matera’s economy intensified with the permanent closure of the Barilla pasta factory in 2006. This process was accelerated above all by the lack of motorway links and the absence of a state-run railway line, thereby hampering production and distribution activities not only at Barilla, but also at other small and medium-sized enterprises in Matera and the surrounding area.
Traditional crafts
The production of traditional handicrafts plays a major role in Matera’s heritage, with papier-mâché work being particularly widespread (its finest example being the construction of the triumphal float for the Madonna della Bruna by local craftsmen), terracotta (including the traditional rooster-shaped whistle known as the ‘cucù’, a symbol of prosperity), calcarenite and wrought iron[78].
Tourism
The tourism sector is experiencing strong growth, thanks to the city’s numerous attractions and unique features, the inclusion of the Sassi di Matera on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and its designation as the European Capital of Culture for 2019. This success in recent years has led to an increase in the number of both Italian and foreign tourists, which has raised the profile of the entire region. Another important factor is undoubtedly linked to the towns in the province, whose beaches on the Ionian Sea are no more than 40 km from the city of Matera.
Traffic conditions
Matera is served by the SS99, which links it to Altamura,[79] and enables travellers to reach Bari[80] by continuing along the SS96.[81] The SS7 runs through the municipality for a long stretch.
The SS655 Bradanica links Matera to Foggia and, from there, to the A14 and A16 motorways via the Candela toll booth. Finally, the provincial road 175 connects the city to Metaponto and to the Jonica State Road 106, via the SS380 (Matera–Montescaglioso).
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