Museo della Scultura Contemporanea, Contemporary sculpture museum in Sassi district, Matera, Italy.
The Museo della Scultura Contemporanea occupies multiple levels within Palazzo Pomarici, blending natural cave spaces with rooms adorned by 16th-century frescoes. The structure spreads through various areas of the Sassi district, using both underground chambers and upper floors for display.
The museum opened in October 2006, creating a dedicated space for modern sculptural art within Matera's ancient stone structures. Its establishment followed years of restoration work on Palazzo Pomarici, which preserved its historical layers while being redesigned as an exhibition venue.
The collection features Italian and international sculptural works from recent decades, alongside ceramics and graphic art on rotating exhibition. The pieces sit within centuries-old rooms, allowing modern creation to converse directly with the historic architecture around it.
The museum welcomes visitors throughout the year and is easily reached from the Sassi district, where several parking options and bus lines serve the area. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as routes through the old town and between the various levels involve stairs and uneven surfaces.
The exhibition spaces extend into natural cave formations carved into the limestone beneath the city, displaying artworks in settings that have changed little from earlier times. These underground caverns served Matera for centuries as homes and storage before being converted into gallery spaces.
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