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- Tour of the Crypt of Original Sin in Matera





This place is one of the oldest testimonies of cave art in southern Italy.
A few kilometers from Matera, along the Appia Antica, in Pietrapenta, lies the oldest and most evocative example of cave art in southern Italy: the Crypt of Original Sin, a cave used as a church in the 9th century by Benedictine monks, completely frescoed by the skillful hand of the "Flower Painter of Matera." Rediscovered in May 1963 by a group of young enthusiasts from Matera, a shelter for livestock, the Crypt of Original Sin has become one of the must-see stops on a visit to the City of Stones. Defined as the "Sistine Chapel" of parietal cave painting due to the cycle of frescoes that portray the theme of Creation and Original Sin, the Crypt "offers itself" in an innovative way to the visitor through an audio journey supported by a "wise and discreet" intervention of lighting design that, by revealing the artistic relevance of its illustrations, tells its story, in a mixture of emotions, spirituality and culture.
Via Alessandro Volta, 3/5, 75100 Matera, Itália
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Check the discounts according to each experience.
2 hours
Regular tour
Alemão / Espanhol / Francês / Inglês / Italiano
Available
Minimum of 3 participants for this tour.
Tour does not operate on Mondays. All other days, departures are at 10:15; 11:45; 14:45; 16:45.
Tour may change due to weather conditions.