Cripta di Santa Maria della Palomba: A Glimpse into Matera's Rock-Hewn Past

Located near the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Palomba, the Cripta di Santa Maria della Palomba, or commonly called Palomba, offers a fascinating look into Matera's ancient past. This rock-hewn crypt features a simple, rectangular nave covered by a humpback vault. The rooms above, which date back to 1645, are almost entirely collapsed. The crypt's walls showcase frescoes of considerable importance, unveiled in 1965 by scholars from the La Scaletta circle. Among the frescoes, visitors can identify a Madonna in a red cloak, Saint Nicholas with an ochre face, and a blessing Child. Other frescoes adorn a concave rock wall, likely the crypt's original apse. The Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Palomba, which the crypt is part of, was built in 1580 on a pre-existing rock nucleus. The dove carved on the portal represents the Holy Spirit.