Things to see · Museums
MUSMA – Museum of Contemporary Sculpture
Matera (Matera)
MUSMA – Museum of Contemporary Sculpture is in Matera, province of Matera. Opening hours: Daily, about 10:00–18:00 (ticket office until 17:15); may close earlier in winter. Closed 25 December, 1 January and 2 July. Admission: Full €7; reduced €4. Guided group tours on booking. Check prices on the website.
- Full €7; reduced €4. Guided group tours on booking. Check prices on the website.
- Daily, about 10:00–18:00 (ticket office until 17:15); may close earlier in winter. Closed 25 December, 1 January and 2 July.
About this place
The MUSMA, the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture in Matera, is a museum unlike any other in the world: its works are displayed inside caves carved beneath Palazzo Pomarici, in the heart of the Sassi. It is Italy’s most important museum devoted entirely to sculpture.
History
Palazzo Pomarici, also known as the «Palazzo delle Cento Stanze» (Palace of the Hundred Rooms), stands on the site of a former Dominican convent. In the 17th century the Pomarici family expanded it into a large noble residence, which extends in part underground into the rock. Under the 1952 law for the redevelopment of the Sassi, it was declared unfit for habitation, cleared and expropriated. Restoration began in 1988.
The museum opened on 14 October 2006, designed by art historian Giuseppe Appella, and is run by the Fondazione Zètema di Matera.
The collections
The MUSMA traces the history of Italian and international sculpture from the late 19th century to the present day, with over 400 works: sculptures, ceramics, medals, jewellery, drawings, prints and artists’ books. The works are displayed both in the rooms of the piano nobile (the main floor) and in the underground spaces, the caves cut into the tufa, in a continuous dialogue between contemporary art and ancient rock. There is also the library of Vanni Scheiwiller and a space for temporary exhibitions.
What to see
• The sculptures in the caves, lit among the walls of tufa.
• The palace rooms, with artists’ ceramics, prints and jewellery.
• The temporary exhibitions, staged in the rooms and in seven underground spaces.
How to get there
• On foot: the museum is located in the Recinto San Giacomo, in the Sasso Caveoso, just below the Civita and the Cathedral.
• By car: cars are not allowed into the Sassi; it is best to leave your car in the city car parks and continue on foot.
Useful information
• The caves stay cool even in summer, making this a good stop during the hottest hours.
• Guided tours for groups and schools are available by reservation.
