Things to see · Churches and sanctuaries
Carmine Church and Convent, Grassano
Grassano (Matera)
Carmine Church and Convent, Grassano is in Grassano, province of Matera. Opening hours: Open for worship; outside services it may be closed: check with the parish. Admission: Free entry.
- Free entry.
- Open for worship; outside services it may be closed: check with the parish.
About this place
The Carmine church, with the former convent of Santa Maria del Carmine, is one of the places most loved by the people of Grassano. Here you’ll find the large presepe by Francesco Artese (nativity scene), the Grassano-born artist whose nativity scenes have also been displayed in St Peter’s Square in Rome and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
History
The earliest certain records of the convent date back to 1612. The bell tower was built at the beginning of the twentieth century.
What to see
• The Francesco Artese nativity scene, in the left aisle: it tells the story of the Nativity set against the landscapes, houses and traditional trades of Basilicata.
• The Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) by the painter Domenico Guarino.
• The cloister and rooms of the former convent, with eighteenth-century frescoes.
Useful information
• This is a church open for worship: to see the nativity scene outside service times, it’s best to check with the parish or the Comune (town hall).
• The most atmospheric time to visit is during the Christmas period.
• In the town there is also the Mother Church of San Giovanni Battista (Mother Church of St John the Baptist).
