Matris Domini Monastery, Dominican monastery in Bergamo, Italy
Matris Domini is a Romanesque monastery from the 13th century in central Bergamo that now houses a museum of medieval frescoes. The complex includes a church with a main nave and two side aisles, along with adjacent spaces displaying wall paintings from the 13th and 14th centuries.
The Dominican community established the monastery in the second half of the 13th century as a center for prayer and learning. During World War II, the building was repurposed as a prison, but was later restored and converted into a museum to preserve its art collection.
The name reflects the Dominican veneration of the Virgin Mary, which shaped the spiritual life of the community. The surviving artworks reveal how religious stories were painted to teach and inspire worshippers during the Middle Ages.
The site is easily accessible in the old city and admission is often free or requires a small contribution. The museum spaces are modest in size and scattered across different rooms, so allow time to view all the frescoes at a comfortable pace.
Five colored glass circles from a 14th-century window are the oldest known glass artworks from the region, showing how advanced the craft was at that time. These rare survivors offer a glimpse into the skill of medieval craftsmen.
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