Things to see · Churches and sanctuaries
Church and Convent of Sant’Antonio, Stigliano
Stigliano (Matera)
Church and Convent of Sant’Antonio, Stigliano is in Stigliano, province of Matera. Opening hours: Church open for worship; the convent houses the Town Hall and can be visited during office hours. Admission: Free entry.
- Free entry.
- Church open for worship; the convent houses the Town Hall and can be visited during office hours.
About this place
The Church of Sant’Antonio di Padova, dedicated to the patron saint of Stigliano, is part of the old Franciscan convent, which today houses the Town Hall. It can be spotted from afar thanks to its rusticated stone façade and its bell tower topped by an Eastern-style dome.
History
Where the complex stands today was once the church of Santa Maria la Nova, built between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. In 1619 the Frati Minori Riformati (Reformed Friars Minor) began building a convent alongside it. In the 18th century the church was enlarged and renovated: the rusticated façade dates from 1763. After a long restoration, it was reopened to the faithful.
What to see
• The façade in rusticated stone and the bell tower over three storeys, crowned by a dome in the Arabic style.
• The wooden Crucifix attributed to Friar Umile da Petralia, linked to the tradition of the town’s deliverance from the plague of 1656.
• The paintings: a Madonna and Child attributed to Antonio Stabile, and works by Giovanni Todisco and Domenico Guarino.
• The wooden statues, including a Saint Michael holding scales, whose pans hold bread and wine.
• The convent, today the seat of the town council.
The festival
Sant’Antonio di Padova, patron saint of Stigliano, is celebrated on 13 June.
Useful information
• This is a church open for worship: visit quietly, outside of services.
• Just a short walk away, below the town, is the Mandarra Park, with sculptures inspired by local legends.
