Santa Lucia Alle Malve

Santa Lucia Alle Malve is one of the most important rock churches in the urban circuit of the Città of the Sassi, located in the Basilicata region.

Its facade is carved into the rock and on the entrance door the coat of arms of Saint Lucia is represented in bas-relief, with the goblet with eyes.

The church has three naves, divided by pillars with round arches, small Czech arches and a flat ceiling with a dome.

The right aisle has a mullioned window, a crescent-shaped window.

Inside the church, you can admire medieval frescoes dated between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, depicting the Archangel Michael, the Madonna delle Grazie, St. John the Baptist and other religious authorities.

Note, on the right aisle, the coronation of the Virgin with Christ showing the lily, symbol of the Angevins, and St. Nicholas next to the deposition of Christ from the cross.

These frescoes are particularly important because they represent one of the first examples of Byzantine art in Italy.

A part of the church is open for worship on December 13 for the celebrations in honor of Santa Lucia.

On the roof of the church is the Barbaric cemetery, with medieval tombs dating back to the 7th century AD.

It is one of the oldest monastic complexes in Italy, founded between 1160 and 1200 AD. Santa Lucia Alle Malve, together with Santa Maria de Idris and the rock church of San Pietro Barisano, is managed by the cooperative society OLTRE L'ARTE.

Visiting it is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the history and spirituality of this unique place, where the beauty of art blends with the majesty of nature