STONE ROADS

STONE ROADS
Itineraries through rocky sites and villages of Apulia and Basilicata
San Giovanni in Monterrone rock-hewn Church, Matera
San Giovanni rock-hewn church, known as " in Monterrone”,
owes its name to the tuff rock dominating the Sasso Caveoso
and the rione Casalnuovo districts. According to
archaeological research, fresco dating, and the few written
documents, the original layout of the church dates back to a
period comprised between the 12th and 13th century.
Following a long period of neglect in its early days, it was
then annexed to the adjoining Santa Maria de Idris church at
the beginning of the 1800s; the creation of a narrow corridor
linking the two buildings resulted in the almost total
destruction of several frescos, whose sparse remains are still
visible on the left wall of the nave and on some rocks
situated in the presbytery area.
Contacts
Address:
Municipality:
Province:
Mobile:
Website:
E-mail:
Contact person:
Via Madonna De Idris
Matera
Matera
(+39) 327 9803776
www.oltrelartematera.it
[email protected]
Oltre l’arte - Società Cooperativa
Opening hours
Always open:
Notes:
no
open by reservation
Services
Information:
Guided visits:
yes
yes
STONE ROADS
Itineraries through rocky sites and villages of Apulia and Basilicata
Other information
Disabled access:
Admission:
Notes:
no
on payment
The following services are available:
 Guided tours, also in English
 Ticket office
 Visitors’ Centre
More details
Interesting fresco cycle. Entering through Santa Maria de Idris you find, on the left, a fresco depicting
Christ Pantocrator (12th century) and, on the right, in a niche, the images of Archangel Michael and St.
Nicholas Bishop (13th century). Opposite, the remains of the face of a Saint monk (13th century) and
1500s’ frescos dedicated to Saint Onuphrius and a Young saint.
In the main section of the church, a niche contains, on one side, images of Saint James the Greater and of
Saint Peter the Apostle (13th century), the latter depicted with a decorated Cyprus-style halo, while on the
other boasts the Annunciation (12th century), topped by a fresco version of the Baptism of Christ in the
Jordan River.
Iris. Soc. Coop. Soc., a Census by the Progetto Interregionale di Sviluppo Turistico (Interregional Tourism
Development Project) “Itinerari interregionali tra siti e villaggi del patrimonio della civiltà rupestre”
(interregional itinerary through sites and villages of the rupestrian civilization)
Updated on: 10/06/2014