Name: Piazza Vittorio Veneto
Address: Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Matera, Basilicata, Italy

Piazza Vittorio Veneto is the most important square in Matera, and the main access point to the Sassi.

The square is located at the crossroads of the main streets of the city center – the elegant Via del Corso with its shops and bistros, Via delle Beccherie that leads to the Duomo, Via Roma and Via XX Settembre.

The square offers one of the most exciting views over the Sassi, from the point known as Tre Archi.

Also, the main access to Sasso Barisano is right in the square.

SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA VITTORIO VENETO

Piazza Vittorio Veneto was previously called Piazza Del Plebiscito, and, before that, was also known as Piazza della Fontana due to the presence of the large monumental Fontana Ferdinandea.

The current appearance of the square is due to the restoration works of 1993, when the monument to the fallen was moved, and the road that crossed the square was eliminated.

Piazza Vittorio Veneto

ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA VITTORIO VENETO

In the western part of the square, there is the imposing Palazzo dell’Annunziata, built between 1735 and 1747 as the Monastery dell’Annunziata for the Dominican nuns.

Since 1998, inside the palace is housed the Provincial Library Tommaso Stigliani, which showcases a vast collection of books and manuscripts, and an important numismatic collection.

In the northern part of the square, there is Palazzo del Governo, the seat of the Prefecture of Matera.

The palace is the former convent of the preaching friars of the Order of San Domenico, and is adjacent to the Church of San Domenico, built starting in 1230 in the Apulian Romanesque style.

In the eastern part of the square, there is the Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio, known as Tre Archi (Three Arches), which offers an impressive view over Sasso Barisano.

In the southern part of the square, one can find the Fontana Ferdinandea, built in 1832.

Under the square, there is Palombaro Lungo, a large public cistern which was brought to light during the restoration of Piazza Vittorio Veneto in the ‘90s.

Roughly 14 metres deep and 50 meters long, the cistern had a capacity of over five million litres of water.