We have left Matera/Sassi two days ago and I am quite backed up with the travelogs. This will be a short one about Matera/Sassi churches.
It is reported Sassi was inhabited for 9000 years. Surprisingly there is little evidence of Roman culture here. Mostly what you see is the Christian influence. In the rest of Italy you are constantly stumbling over Roman ruins or Greek columns. Not in the Sassi.
In the Sassi, it seems like every other cave was once a church. I have seen some very big churches and monasteries in these caves. One has to remember that the locals were constantly repurposing caves, moving things around. I think that is why it seems every other cave was once a church. We stopped at the Madonna delle Virtu' and St. Nicola dei Greci church/museum that was built in 11th century. It is a sprawling complex of tunnels and rooms. Many of the original Byzantine art is still visible.
Now someone got the bright idea that this would be a great place to have a modern art museum. So through out this ancient complex are various modern art works blocking the Byzantine art. With any art, I can take it or leave it. But having to crane my neck around to see an art work from 1000 years old because of some nondescript structure is blocking the view doesn't seem right.
In one room, all the modern art was made out of steel from the world trade towers. I didn't know that NYC is giving away the steel to various groups to make art. That was kind of interesting.
As you may already know, Mel Gibson filmed his Passion movie here in the Sassi. A fairly religious couple we met claimed the last supper scene was filmed in this cave. I was unable to verify this. Enclosed is a photo of the room. Someone added table, chairs and other stuff as art(assume not from the movie). In this case I think it worked. The white gives it a very haunting feeling. Yes? There was another art work in the back that seemed out of place.
ciao for now
bill
