The Provincial Archaeological Museum of Potenza
Patrimonio culturale
The museo archeologico provinciale (provincial archaeological museum) of Potenza retains the historical memory of the area and guides visitors through thediscovery of the uses, cults and traditions of the peoples who had settled in Basilicata, from the Greek colonisation to the late Imperial Age. The museum’s permanent collection on the first floor includes remains found in the Greek colony of Metaponto, in the indigenous sites of the area surrounding Potenza and the Romanised inland towns. It hosts temporary exhibitions on archaeology, modern and contemporary art, with guided tours and educational activities.
The National Archaeological Museum of Bernalda-Metaponto
Patrimonio culturale
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale (National Archaeological Museum) of Metaponto is one of the most authoritative records
of the ancient Magna Graecia culture and history. Its large exhibition venues boast over two thousand finds from excavations carried out in the ancient town of Me- tapontum, where the Greek philosopher Pythagoras founded his school and died, in the necropolis, in the colony’s fields, and in some locations on the Ionian coast and its hinterland, along the Bradano and Basento river valleys. Other sections of the museum are dedicated to the ancient Greek colonies of Siris and Herakleia and the ancient Italian world of the Agri and Sinni valleys.
The archaeological park, located north of Metaponto Borgo, includes the urban sanctuary, part of theagora, the handicraft district for ceramics’ production (kerameikos), and the great north-south road system (plateia). There are traces of a remarkable number of monuments, which have marked the civil and religious life of the colony, from the initial phases of its foundation until the Roman conquest in the 3rd century BC. The famous Tavole Palatine (Palatine Tables) are really a must-see for any visitor.
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Tursi, the Literary Park of Albino Pierro
Patrimonio culturale
Established in the home town of Albino Pierro, the Park is dedicated to this dialect poet who was nominated several times for the Nobel Prize for Literature.
“How am I to do my Madonna, / as I do? /I’ve left the country / which gave me the breath of heaven, / and now in this town, / I slam in his face only the walls, / many things haunt me and cries, / like a vermicaio” In the poem “ Was written on his face” (“Le porte scritte nfàcce”), Albino Pierro confirms his strong bond with his land, which has been honoured by the village of Tursi through the creation of the Literary Park.
The park, managed by the Centro Studi Albino Pierro (Albino Pierro research centre), offers a great view on the beautiful clay landscape known as Calanchi and the Sanctuary of the Santa Maria d’Anglona. Looking upwards, you will enjoy the charming sight of the Rabatana, the old town of Tursi, surrounded by the ravines and gullies – called “jaramme” (dialect term) by the poet – that, along with the houses made in brick and stone, a legacy left by the Saracens, make this small town an astonishing example of spontaneous architecture.
Inside the Park there is the Museum of Albino Pierro’s Poetry, which permanently houses a collection of paintings by Lucanian artists such as Nino Tricarico and Antonio Masini, whose works have been inspired by this important and famous poet.
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Casa delle Muse Sinisgalli in Montemurro
Patrimonio culturale
Covering almost 200 square meters, it offers visitors the chance to discover one of the most complex and original personalities of the twentieth century.
Headquarters of the Sinisgalli Foundation, the Casa delle Muse Sinisgalli (‘House of the Sinisgalli Muses’) includes the library of the “engineer poet”, rebuilt in one of the rooms and which houses 3,000 volumes, his desk and the famous oil portrait by the painter Maria Padula.
The following exhibitions are also currently open to visitors: “La soffitta di Sinisgalli” (‘Sinisgalli’s attic’), on the material (documents, objects, volumes, etc.) found in the cellar and in the attic; “Intimo Sinisgalli”, on the fund acquired by the Foundation from Agnese De Donato (30 drawings, photographs, manuscripts and unpublished poems) and “Elogio dell’Entropia” (‘In praise of Entropy’) on the discovery of 42 absorbent papers, of considerable artistic interest.
MUSMA
Patrimonio culturale
The only cave-museum in the world and important exhibition venue entirely dedicated to sculpture, the MUSMA narrates the story of Italian and international sculpture from the end of 1800s to present day. The collection contains donations made by artists, collectors, art dealers and critics to the Fondazione Zètema of Matera, which is the museum’s organising body.
The MUSMA is housed in Palazzo Pomarici, a 16th-century building with deeply recessed caves, where you will discover the amazing combination of centuries-old, man-made rock caves, with contemporary sculpture.
The National Museum of medieval and modern art in Basilicata
Patrimonio culturale
The National Museum of medieval and modern art in Basilicata is located in Palazzo Lanfranchi, a monumental palace commissioned around the 17th century by Archbishop Vincenzo Lanfranchi to host the city’s seminary. The museum boasts three galleries: Sacred art, D’Errico Collection and Contemporary Art, which are housed in halls on the first floor of the building.
On the ground floor, the Sala Levi keeps the panoramic mural “Lucania ‘61”, made by Carlo Levi on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the Italian Unification.
The Pinacoteca Provinciale of Potenza
Patrimonio culturale
Located near the Provincial Archaeological Museum, in the old town district of Santa Maria, the Pinacoteca Provinciale of Potenza (Potenza public art gallery) houses very interesting exhibitions.
Currently you can visit the temporary exhibition of paintings and sculptures dedicated to Concetto Valente, which includes part of the collection of paintings and sculptures owned by the Province of Potenza, featuring works of art dating back to the 19th century. Among the artists, really noteworthy are Di Chirico, Brando, Tedesco, Mona and La Creta.
The exhibition also includes works by contemporary artists such as Guerricchio, Claps and Squitieri. The room dedicated to the 20th century hosts artworks by Carlo Levi, Fausto Pirandello and Renato Guttuso. A permanent collection dedicated to the artist Rocco Falciano, born in Potenza, has been recently set up at the ground floor, thanks to the donation of the artist’s most significant works by his family.
National Archaeological Museum of Alta Val D'Agri and the Archaeological Area of Grumentum
Patrimonio culturale
In his “History of Basilicata”, Tommaso Pedio writes that “the most illustrious city in Roman Lucania is Grumentum”. Located along the Via Erculea, Grumento was home to Bindaice, Ocilo and Ocello, all students of Pythagoras, and the summer residence of Roman senators. Today, Grumento Nova stands on a high hill in the Agri Valley, near the remains of the ancient city, which was destroyed by the Saracens in 1031.
Steeped in history and culture, the town offers visitors an interesting tour across sacred buildings and noble palaces, archaeological sites and museums. Among the churches, the ones dedicated to Saint Anthony and the Holy Rosary stand out, while among the “palaces of power”, the Sanseverino castle of Norman origin is really worth seeking out. Furthermore, Grumento archaeology is proudly displayed in the National Archaeological Museum of Contrada Spineta, while the Roman remains of Grumentum rise from the nearby archaeological park, considered one of the most important in southern Italy. The park’s most significant remains include a theatre dating back to the Augustan Age, two small temples from the Imperial Age, a patrician domus, the casa dei mosaici (house of mosaics) and the elliptical amphitheatre, which used to host gladiator games and attract the merchants travelling along the Empire’s streets.
NationalArchaeological Museum of Alta Val D’Agri
The National Archaeological Museum of the Alta Val d’Agri is the only national museum in the south-western area of Basilicata and narrates the history of the Roman city of Grumentum and the Alta Val d’Agri. In recent years, the cultural offer has been enriched with the exhibition of materials from new excavation campaigns, which led to the discovery of the Imperial Baths and the Forum.
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The Diocesan Museum of Acerenza
Patrimonio culturale
The ancient building, once home to the Acerenza seminary, today houses the Diocesan Museum, where objects from the treasure of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta can be found. The museum’s exhibits, dating back to different historical periods, are truly fasci- nating as they narrate the life and spiritual experiences of Benedictine and Franciscan monks, saint priests and bishops.
The remains found in the area may be dating back to the 9th century BC – 4th century AD. They are exhibited in the archaeological and lapidary section, and include a marble bust of emperor Julian the Apostate (331-363).
The National Archaeological Museum of Venosa
Patrimonio culturale
The national archaeological museum of Venosa is contiguous to the walls of the Aragonese castle, commissioned by Pirro del Balzo in 1470. Inaugurated in 1991, the museum itinerary includes five sections ranging from prehistoric and pre-Roman times to the High Middle Ages. Numerous epigraphs, mostly of funerary kind, are displayed to visitors. Since 1996, the museum has showcased a section dedicated to prehistory, from the lower Palaeolithic to the Metal Age.
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