Palazzo Lanfranchi Reopens in Matera with New Exhibitions and Multimedia Spaces

Palazzo Lanfranchi in Matera has reopened after a three-year restoration and a temporary closure on September 2, 2024. Originally built in 1668 as a seminary for Bishop Vincenzo Lanfranchi and completed in 1672 by Francesco da Copertino, the building has housed the Museo Nazionale d'Arte Medievale e Moderna della Basilicata since 2003. The new layout includes ground-floor galleries dedicated to Carlo Levi (curated by Daniela Fonti) and Luigi Guerricchio (curated by Maria Adelaide Cuozzo), with Levi's large canvas 'Lucania '61' reinstalled for better viewing. The first floor features two sections: sacred art from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, and the Camillo d'Errico collection of Neapolitan painting from the 17th-18th centuries (curated by Stefano Causa). Three new multimedia rooms include an immersive AI-powered space for Levi's works, a video introduction for Guerricchio's gallery, and a multisensory experience for the d'Errico collection with a full-wall projection. Two touch-screen tables offer gamification, and a LEGO® reproduction of 'Lucania '61' using over 220,000 bricks is in the new educational room. Director Annamaria Mauro called the reopening a historic moment for Matera, emphasizing inclusivity and accessibility.