Matera Cathedral

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Bruna and Saint Eustace is the mother church of Matera. Built in Apulian Romanesque style in the 13th century, it stands on the highest spur of the Civita, between the Sasso Barisano and the Sasso Caveoso, and with its bell tower it dominates all the Sassi.

History

The cathedral was built between 1230 and 1270 on the site of an earlier place of worship and the ancient Benedictine monastery of Sant’Eustachio. Over time it changed its name several times: Santa Maria di Matera, then Santa Maria dell’Episcopio, from 1389 Santa Maria della Bruna, and from 1627 Madonna della Bruna and Sant’Eustachio, the two patron saints of the city.

From 1627 the interior was transformed in Baroque style, with stucco and decorations, and in 1776 the frames and stuccoes were covered in gold. In 1719 the trussed roof was covered by a wooden false ceiling. In 1962 Pope John XXIII elevated it to a minor basilica. After a long restoration begun in 2003, which brought to light medieval frescoes and remains of the oldest buildings, it reopened for worship on 5 March 2016.

What to see

• The façade, with the large sixteen-ray rose window topped by the Archangel Michael, the portal with the Madonna della Bruna and the statues of the saints.
• The Porta dei Leoni (Lions’ Door) and the piazza door on the right flank, and the bell tower, 52 metres high.
• The fresco of the Madonna della Bruna (1270), attributed to Rinaldo da Taranto.
• The Last Judgment, a large late 13th-century fresco that resurfaced during the restorations.
• The stone nativity scene by Altobello Persio and Sannazzaro di Alessano (1530-1534).
• The wooden choir in walnut from 1453, with 60 stalls, by Giovanni Tantino.
• The MATA Diocesan Museum, included in the visit route.
• The belvedere in Piazza Duomo, with views over the two Sassi.

The Bruna festival

On 2 July, Matera celebrates the Madonna della Bruna with a procession and the large papier-mâché cart, which at the end of the day is destroyed by the crowd in the «assalto al carro» (the cart assault). On that day the cathedral is not open to tourist visits.

Getting there

• On foot: from the centre, it is reached via Via Duomo, which starts from Piazza Sedile; from the Sassi, climb the stairways of the Civita.
• By car: cars cannot enter the Civita; it is best to leave them in the car parks of the new town.

Useful information

• The tourist visit is a single route covering the Cathedral and the MATA Diocesan Museum, run by the cooperative Oltre l’Arte.
• During Masses and ceremonies, the tourist visit is suspended.