Matera is a city located in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. Known for its “Sassi,” ancient districts carved into limestone, Matera offers a unique spectacle of troglodyte dwellings that date back thousands of years. These Sassi were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Come and discover some of its beauties with us through CHO.Earth’s VCards!
National Museum of Matera – Palazzo Lanfranchi
The National Museum of Matera, located in the historic center of Matera within Palazzo Lanfranchi, is dedicated to the history, art, and culture of the Matera region. The museum’s collection ranges from prehistory to the present day, with an archaeological section displaying prehistoric artifacts from the Sassi of Matera and the Neolithic sites of Murgia Timone and Murgia Trasano. It also hosts a section of medieval and Renaissance art, featuring paintings, sculptures, and manuscripts from local churches and monasteries. The museum additionally organizes temporary exhibitions and cultural events, offering a rich experience for visitors.
Ipogeo MateraSum
Ipogeo MateraSum is a fascinating underground site in Matera, offering visitors an immersion into the ancient history of the city through a journey among rock-carved environments. This hypogeum represents an important testimony to the architecture and daily life of the civilizations that have inhabited the region over millennia. It is a true city beneath the city, made up of houses, streets, cisterns, production areas, and places of worship in a world to be discovered; it stretches over 1200 meters long and goes up to 12 meters deep.
MUSMA – Museum of Contemporary Sculpture Matera – Palazzo Pomarici
The MUSMA (Museum of Contemporary Sculpture Matera), inaugurated in 2006, is Italy’s foremost museum entirely dedicated to sculpture. Located in Palazzo Pomarici, a 16th-century building in the Sassi district, it is unique as a “cave” museum. The exhibition spaces, which include both the palace and large hypogea carved into the rock, offer a perfect integration between contemporary sculptures and the rupestrian environment, creating an emotionally intense experience for visitors.
Join our community on Telegram!