Matera: history, resistance and cultural rebirth

Matera: history, resistance and cultural rebirth

On Thursday 23 April 2026 from 17:00 to 19:00 in the Sala Sozzi of the Palazzo del Ridotto (Piazza Almerici, 12 - Cesena) a public meeting will be held to explore Matera's trajectory from marginality to a model of cultural and civic renewal.

The event, aimed at citizens, researchers and contemporary history enthusiasts, offers an overview of Matera's historical, social and economic development, with a focus on the city's role in resisting nazism and fascism and on the long process of heritage-led revitalisation.

• Main speaker: Raffaello de Ruggeri, former mayor of Matera and expert in the city's history.
• Introductions by: Ines Briganti (President of the Institute of the History of the Resistance and Contemporary Age of Forlì-Cesena) and Luciana Garbuglia.
• Concluding remarks: Mons. Antonio Giuseppe Caiazzo, Bishop of Cesena-Sarsina.
• Admission: free of charge.
• Audience: general public, researchers and those interested in monuments and heritage.
• Contact: Institute of the History of the Resistance and Contemporary Age of Forlì-Cesena, tel. 0543 28999.

The session will highlight how local history, cultural figures and heritage initiatives can drive territorial development. Speakers will reflect on personalities associated with Matera and the steps that led the city to national and international recognition.

Attendees will gain insights into the link between historical memory and monument conservation, beneficial for cultural professionals and anyone interested in the story of a city that became a symbol of regeneration in southern Italy.