Piazza Duomo

Welcome to Piazza Duomo, the undisputed crown of Matera. We have ascended to the highest point of the Civita, the oldest and most prestigious part of the city. …

Let us turn our attention to the facade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Bruna and Sant'Eustachio. Completed in the late 13th century, this facade is a triumph of the Apulian Romanesque style. …

As you step inside the Cathedral, you might be surprised to find an interior that feels much more exuberant than the sober Romanesque exterior. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the church underwent an extensive Baroque…

Exiting the Cathedral and moving toward the edge of the square, you reach the Belvedere, one of the most significant overlooks in Italy. From here, the Sasso Barisano unfolds in its entirety. …

Adjacent to the Cathedral square is the Palazzo dell’Annunziata, a building that represents the civic and social history of the Civita. Originally built in the 18th century as a convent, it later served as a hospital and…

Surrounding Piazza Duomo are several 'palazzi gentilizi,' or noble residences, that belonged to the elite families of Matera. These families, such as the Gattini and the Venusio, lived at the highest point of the city to distance…

As you stand in the center of Piazza Duomo, it is important to remember that the ground beneath you is not solid earth, but a complex network of archaeological layers. Excavations have revealed that the Civita has been inhabited…

As our time in Piazza Duomo comes to a close, I invite you to take one last look at the extraordinary panorama before you. From this height, the challenges and triumphs of Matera are written in the stone. …