Cattedrale di Matera
Italy
We will visit the Cathedral of Matera, an example of Apulian Romanesque style and dedicated to the Madonna delle Bruna. The latter is the Marian effigy dearest to the people of Matera and is celebrated during the homonymous festival on 2 July.
Contents
10 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the Cattedrale di Santa Maria della Bruna e di Sant'Eustachio, the magnificent architectural crown of Matera. Perched on the highest point of the 'Civitas', the oldest part of the city, this cathedral has stood as a…
Listen in the app2The Facade and the Rose Window
As we stand in front of the main facade, we are looking at one of the finest examples of Romanesque design in southern Italy. The exterior is constructed from the local calcarenite stone, which has a soft, golden texture that…
Listen in the app3The Portals — Door of the Lions and Door of Abraham
Moving around the side of the cathedral, we encounter two other monumental doorways that tell their own stories. The 'Porta de leone', or Door of the Lions, is named after the two stone lions that support the flanking columns, a…
Listen in the app4The Nave and the Medieval Capitals
Entering the cathedral, we are struck by the contrast between the austere Romanesque exterior and the opulent, gold-leafed interior, largely remodeled in the 17th and 18th centuries. The church follows a Latin cross plan with…
Listen in the app5The Chapel of the Madonna della Bruna
In the left aisle, we find the first and perhaps most important chapel, dedicated to the Madonna della Bruna, the patroness of Matera. The center of the chapel features a stunning 13th-century fresco of the Virgin and Child,…
Listen in the app6The Chapel of the Annunciation
Continuing along the aisle, we encounter the Chapel of the Annunciation, a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture in Matera. Created in the early 1500s by the local sculptor Altobello Persio, this chapel is carved entirely from the…
Listen in the app7The Presbytery and the Wooden Choir
At the eastern end of the cathedral, elevated by seven steps, we find the presbytery and the main altar. This is the most sacred part of the church, where the liturgy is performed. …
Listen in the app8The Bell Tower and Eternal Skyline
Finally, we turn our attention to the exterior once more to look up at the 52-meter tall bell tower. This square tower is a landmark that can be seen from miles away in the Lucanian countryside. …
Listen in the app9Cattedrale di Matera
As we finish our exploration of the Matera Cathedral, we carry with us a vision of a city that has transformed itself from 'the shame of Italy' to a UNESCO world treasure. This cathedral is the physical manifestation of that…
Listen in the app10Closing
As we finish our exploration of the Matera Cathedral, we carry with us a vision of a city that has transformed itself from 'the shame of Italy' to a UNESCO world treasure. This cathedral is the physical manifestation of that…
Listen in the app
What is Cattedrale di Matera?
Cattedrale di Matera is a place in Italy with 10 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Italy |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 10 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 40.6668, 16.6109 |
| Last updated |
Nearby places
within a 5-minute walk
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Church of Santa Maria de IdrisHeritage8 sections
Convento Sant' AgostinoActivity8 sections