Museo di Palazzo Lanfranchi (Lanfranchi Palace Museum), Matera
Lanfranchi Palace brings a touch of grandeur to Giovanni Pascoli Square, its baroque fa莽ade standing as proof that 17th-century Matera knew how to make an impression. Commissioned by Bishop Vincenzo Lanfranchi between 1668 and 1672, the building began life as a seminary, built in line with the vision of strengthening Catholic presence. Though designed with function in mind, the palace never lost its flair, absorbing older structures into a monumental front that still commands attention today.
The palace鈥檚 story doesn鈥檛 end with the clergy. By the 19th century, the seminary鈥檚 days were over, and new roles followed. It was tied to the Church of the Carmine, adapted for judicial use, and even served educational purposes before settling into civic life. The real transformation came in the late 20th century, when restoration prepared it for its present role. Since 2003, Lanfranchi Palace has been home to the National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata, breathing new life into its historic halls.
Inside, the collections move across centuries. Sacred Art preserves pieces rescued from regional churches, while the Collectibles section displays canvases from the Neapolitan school of the 17th and 18th centuries. The modern galleries highlight works by Luigi Guerricchio and Carlo Levi, whose exile in Basilicata inspired Christ Stopped at Eboli. Levi鈥檚 paintings鈥攕howing the hardships and resilience of southern peasants鈥攁nchor the building鈥檚 cultural narrative in the 20th century.
And of course, the palace itself plays its part. Visitors move through arcaded halls, cloisters, and staircases, with occasional views opening over the Sasso Caveoso below. Today, exhibitions, conferences, and cultural events fill the rooms, keeping the palace both a historic monument and a working cultural hub. It is less a relic than a bridge: between baroque Matera, modern Basilicata, and the stories that bind them together.
The palace鈥檚 story doesn鈥檛 end with the clergy. By the 19th century, the seminary鈥檚 days were over, and new roles followed. It was tied to the Church of the Carmine, adapted for judicial use, and even served educational purposes before settling into civic life. The real transformation came in the late 20th century, when restoration prepared it for its present role. Since 2003, Lanfranchi Palace has been home to the National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata, breathing new life into its historic halls.
Inside, the collections move across centuries. Sacred Art preserves pieces rescued from regional churches, while the Collectibles section displays canvases from the Neapolitan school of the 17th and 18th centuries. The modern galleries highlight works by Luigi Guerricchio and Carlo Levi, whose exile in Basilicata inspired Christ Stopped at Eboli. Levi鈥檚 paintings鈥攕howing the hardships and resilience of southern peasants鈥攁nchor the building鈥檚 cultural narrative in the 20th century.
And of course, the palace itself plays its part. Visitors move through arcaded halls, cloisters, and staircases, with occasional views opening over the Sasso Caveoso below. Today, exhibitions, conferences, and cultural events fill the rooms, keeping the palace both a historic monument and a working cultural hub. It is less a relic than a bridge: between baroque Matera, modern Basilicata, and the stories that bind them together.
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Museo di Palazzo Lanfranchi (Lanfranchi Palace Museum) on Map
Sight Name: Museo di Palazzo Lanfranchi (Lanfranchi Palace Museum)
Sight Location: Matera, Italy (See walking tours in Matera)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Matera, Italy (See walking tours in Matera)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Matera, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Matera
Creating your own self-guided walk in Matera is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Matera's Ancient Cave Churches
Within the old city of Matera, there are more than 160 churches. Many of these are actually carved into the soft limestone cliffs lining the Gravina River. There are even some used for pagan rituals. The churches were carved from existing caves and tunnels. More than a few sanctified cave churches have been converted to storage and homes.
A good example to start with is the St. Anthony... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
A good example to start with is the St. Anthony... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Matera Introduction Walking Tour
Architectural historian Anne Parmly Toxey said the cave areas of Matera had been occupied for at least 3,000 years. Archaeological research shows people lived here since the Paleolithic era, shaping homes and communal spaces directly into the soft limestone. Over centuries, those modest caves expanded into an intricate neighborhood鈥攕tone dwellings, churches, and twisting passageways stacked upon... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles