Palazzo Lanfranchi: Matera's Hidden Museum Showcasing Italian Art

Palazzo Lanfranchi in Matera, home to the Museo Nazionale di Arte Medievale e Moderna directed by Marta Ragozzino, features Kengiro Azuma's bronze sculpture "Goccia" installed after a 2010 exhibition curated by Giuseppe Appella in the rupestrian churches. This initiated a dialogue between the artist and the city, leading to new works including bread sculptures baked in historic ovens. Inside, a large sculpture by Pasquale (Ninì) Santoro, a founder of Gruppo Uno, anchors the experimental Italian sculpture tradition from the 1960s-70s. On the ground floor, Carlo Levi's monumental painting "Lucania '61" spans eighteen meters, depicting Matera's life, anthropology, and rupestrian architecture. The upper floor houses two rooms dedicated to Levi with medium and small works, plus a gallery of 16th-17th century Southern Italian art and a sculpture collection from Basilicata churches and collections. The museum also hosts jazz concerts and yoga sessions, awaiting the 2019 European Capital of Culture exhibition program and an updated website.