Type of site:
Archaeological site
Village/Town:
Municipality: Matera ()
Region: Basilicata
State: Italy
Website: http://www.visitamatera.it/
Natural Environment:
Archaeological evidences in the site:
The Murgia Park contains 150 churches, each distinct in its architecture and iconography, among which the churches of San Leonardo, San Giacomo, Capuccino Vecchio, and Santa Cesarea stand out. Mostly built during the Middle Ages, a period that saw the convergence of Greco-Byzantine and Latin cultures, they were also carved into the rock. What is most striking is that they originated as places of worship, although over the years the churches have been used for other purposes, transforming, depending on the need, into rooms or stables. These churches are an important testament to human presence, specifically that of Benedictine, Lombard, and Byzantine monks.