Things to see · Churches and sanctuaries
Mother Church of San Nicola, Craco
Craco (Matera)
Mother Church of San Nicola, Craco is in Craco, province of Matera. Opening hours: Guided visits only. 1 April to 31 October: every day 9:30–18:30; 1 November to 31 March: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10:00–15:00. Admission: Full ticket (museum park and Emotional Museum) from €16.20; buy online at oltrelartecraco.it or at the ticket office.
- Full ticket (museum park and Emotional Museum) from €16.20; buy online at oltrelartecraco.it or at the ticket office.
- Guided visits only. 1 April to 31 October: every day 9:30–18:30; 1 November to 31 March: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10:00–15:00.
About this place
The Mother Church of San Nicola was the main church of old Craco. With its bell tower, its silhouette still dominates the abandoned village alongside the Norman tower.
History
The church has medieval origins and was rebuilt in the 17th century in Baroque style. Dedicated to San Nicola, the patron saint of the town, it was for centuries the centre of religious life in Craco. After the landslide of 1963 and the abandonment of the village, it was left empty, and time and decay have left their mark.
What to see
• The bell tower on three levels, crowned by a dome covered in majolica tiles.
• The façade, which looks out over the ruins of the village.
• The single-nave interior, where traces of the altars and of frescoes in the Neapolitan school remain.
How to visit
The church can be seen along the guided route of old Craco, with a hard hat and authorised guides. The ticket office is at the Convent of San Pietro.
Useful information
• For safety reasons, entry is not always possible: it depends on which route is open.
• San Nicola is celebrated on the second Saturday of October, in the new town of Craco Peschiera.
