The National Archaeological Museum “Domenico Ridola”

In the vibrant heart of Matera, just a few steps from the city’s famous and ancient Sassi caves, stands a place that serves as a true key to understanding its history: the National Archaeological Museum “Domenico Ridola.” Housed in the elegant former Convent of Santa Chiara, this extraordinary repository of history is more than a museum — it is the essential starting point for anyone who wishes to discover how humans have lived in and shaped this land since prehistoric times.

The Legacy of a Man and the Birth of a Museum

The Ridola Museum is the legacy of Domenico Ridola (1841–1932) — a physician, senator, and passionate archaeologist from Matera. Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he conducted pioneering excavations that unearthed invaluable artifacts, laying the scientific foundation for the prehistoric history of Basilicata. His remarkable collection, donated to the State, became the cornerstone of the museum, which opened in 1911. Walking through its halls today means following in the footsteps of a man who listened to the voices of the past buried beneath the earth.

A Journey Through Time: From the Stone Age to the Metal Ages

The museum’s exhibition unfolds as a journey through time, guiding visitors across the ages that shaped human settlement in the region.

• The Paleolithic and Mesolithic Eras:
  The journey begins in the earliest epochs, with flint and bone tools that illustrate the lives of the first hunter-gatherers who inhabited the caves of the Murgia plateau. These skillfully crafted artifacts testify to the ingenuity and resilience of communities that lived in harmony with their environment.
• The Neolithic Revolution:
  The Neolithic section forms the heart of the museum, documenting the monumental shift from nomadic life to settled agriculture. Visitors can admire red-banded ceramics and geometrically decorated vessels from the fortified Neolithic villages of Murgecchia and Murgia Timone. These objects speak of the social organization, rituals, and daily life of the first farming communities of Basilicata, who learned to cultivate the region’s fertile soil.
• The Metal Ages:
  The next section showcases finds from the Bronze and Iron Ages, highlighting technological advances and the rise of more complex societies. Particularly striking are the funerary artifacts from the necropolises of Timmari and surrounding areas, which reveal insights into the beliefs and social hierarchies of the time.
• The Influence of Magna Graecia and Rome:
  The final section focuses on the cultural exchanges and economic ties between the Lucanian region and the flourishing colonies of Magna Graecia along the Ionian coast, later absorbed into the Roman Empire. Pottery, amphorae, and other artifacts narrate this period of interaction, prosperity, and transformation.

Visitor Information

• Address: Via Domenico Ridola, 24 – 75100 Matera (MT), Italy. Centrally located, within walking distance of the main attractions.
• Contacts:
  • Phone: +39 0835 310058
  • General email: [email protected]
  • Education and bookings: [email protected]
• Opening Hours:
  • Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM (last entry at 7:00 PM)
  • Monday: 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM (last entry at 7:00 PM)
  • Tip: Always check the official website of the National Museums of Matera for updates or special closures.
• Tickets:
  • Full: €10.00
  • Reduced: €2.00 (EU citizens aged 18–25)
  • Free: Under 18s, school groups, visitors with disabilities and their companions, accredited journalists, and other eligible categories.
  • Cumulative Ticket: €15.00 (valid for 2 days), granting access to all Matera National Museums: the Ridola Museum, Palazzo Lanfranchi, and the Ex Ospedale San Rocco — perfect for those who wish to explore the city’s entire cultural heritage.

Visiting the National Archaeological Museum “Domenico Ridola” is the beginning of an ongoing dialogue with Matera’s history — a dialogue that continues among the winding streets and ancient caves of the Sassi.

Cover photo credits: Giuseppe Cillis, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0