Chiesa Rupestre di San Pietro Barisano (Rupestrian Church of St. Peter Barisano), Matera

The Church of San Pietro Barisano was originally called San Pietro de Veteribus ("venerable, old"). It is the largest rock church in the city of Matera. The church has been modified more than once over the ages. The first expansion took place between the 15th and 16th centuries.

In the first expansion of the church, side chapels, were installed. Only part of the chapel remains, behind the second altar in the right aisle. There are frescoes of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the Annunciation, Saints Canio, Saint Augustine, Saint Eustachio, and Saint Vito.

The second renovation gave the church a three-nave plan, a new facade, and an underground room called the "Putridarium," a place for the "draining" of the corpses. This funeral practice was reserved for priests. The drained bodies were dressed in liturgical robes and seated in niches in the tuff walls.

Entering the right aisle, one will find the altar of Saint Joseph, missing its altarpiece, stolen in 1977; the altar of Madonna della Consolazione, with tuff images of Madonna and Child, angels and saints; and the altar of the Blessed Sacrament with its floor of decorated majolica tiles.

The left aisle features the altar of the gold leaf Most Holy Crucifix, the altar of the Annunciation, and the altar of Saint Mary Magdalene. At the end of the aisle is the "Sancta Sanctorum," the storage room for liturgical vestments, furnishings, and relics of saints. There are frescoes of the Madonna and Child and Saint Donato the Bishop.