The Church of San Pietro Caveoso (Chiesa di San Pietro Caveoso), also known as the Church of Saints Peter and Paul (Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo), is a Baroque church in Matera, located in Sasso Caveoso, the southern ancient district of the city. SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SAN PIETRO CAVEOSO The church was built in 1218, but undergone numerous changes and renovations over the centuries, and many of its original features were lost in time. In the 17th century, the church was completely renovated and the current facade was built. At the same time, the bell-tower was raised and the interior of the church was enlarged, with the addition of the side chapels. In 1706, the church was re-consecrated, as indicated on a plaque, and new improvements were made. The cusp was added on the bell-tower, the interior was covered with stucco and decorations, and a wooden false ceiling was placed under the tufa roof. ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL The Baroque facade presents, in the lower part, three portals with a simple frame. Above each of them, there are semi-circular niches containing statues. Above the central portal, there Read more [...]
Tag: Baroque in Matera
Church of San Francesco d’Assisi
The Church of San Francesco d’Assisi is a church located in Piazza San Francesco, in Matera. The church, built in Baroque style, is dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, after the saint visited Matera in 1218. SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO D’ASSISI The current church was built in the first half of the 13th century on the place of a hypogean church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. The ancient church can still be accessed today through a trap door from the third chapel on the left. The church was enlarged in the 15th century, and many transformations were subsequently made until the 18th century, when it assumed its current state, with the construction of the Baroque facade by the architects Vito Valentino and Tommaso Pennetta. ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO D’ASSISI The Baroque facade houses three statues in the upper part, with the Virgin Mary in the center, and Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Anthony of Padua on the sides. The interior consists of a single nave, with side chapels and a beautiful painted ceiling. The nave ends with the quadrangular apse, introduced by a pointed arch and covered Read more [...]
Church of Sant’Agostino
The Church of Sant’Agostino is a church in Matera dedicated to Saint Augustine. The church and the adjacent convent dominates Sasso Barisano from a rocky spur. SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SANT’AGOSTINO The convent was built in 1592 by the monks belonging to the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine on an ancient hypogeum dedicated to Saint William of Vercelli. The church, dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie, was built two years later, in 1594. In 1734, the entire complex was destroyed by an earthquake. Once restored, in 1747, the convent and the church became the General Chapter of the Augustinian Order. The church was consecrated in 1750 by the Archbishop Antonio Antinori. Over time, the convent was suppressed, and it was used as an army shelter, before becoming a prison and later a care home for the elderly. Today, it houses the Superintendence for Architectural and Environmental Heritage. ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH OF SANT’AGOSTINO The facade of the church is dominated by the central portal, surmounted by a niche with the statue of Sant’Agostino. Above the cornice, there is a niche containing a statue of a bishop and, on both sides, the statues of Read more [...]
Church of San Biagio
The Church of San Biagio is a small Baroque church located on the homonymous street, at the nortwest limit of Sasso Barisano, in Matera. Where the Church of San Biagio stands today, there was once the northern gate of the ancient Sassi, Porta San Biagio. The ancient gate was to the left of the current church. The cult of San Biagio in Matera could be related to the Armenian community gathered around the Benedictine Monastery of Santa Maria de Armenis. SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SAN BIAGIO The church was built in 1642 to replace an old church dedicated to the same saint, which was abandoned due to the humidity. The new church was linked to the healing virtues of Saint Blaise, the Armenian saint martyred in 316 AD. The church is closed all year, but it opens on February 3, on the occasion of the Feast of San Biagio. ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH OF SAN BIAGIO The church is characterized by a very simple facade, which has two dome-shaped bell-gables and a square window in the center, divided by a column. On both sides of the entrance door, there are two niches with the statues of Read more [...]