Museo di Palazzo Lanfranchi (Lanfranchi Palace Museum), Matera

Lanfranchi Palace represents the best expression of 17th-century architecture in Matera. Originally a seminary, the palace was built in 1668 on the command of Bishop Vincenzo Lanfranchi in conformance with the Catholic dictates of the Council of Trent.

Construction was directed by Friar Francesco da Copertino. Friar Francesco completed the job in 1672. The complex incorporated pre-existing structures in its scenic facade. The palace, inaugurated in 2003, is a part of the National Museum of Matera. It houses the National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata.

The museum is on Giovanni Pascoli Square. A reception service is on the ground floor in a corridor surrounding the cloister. The Pascoli and Levi rooms are venues for exhibitions and events. The sections dedicated to Sacred Art, Collectibles, and Contemporary Art are on the second floor.

The Room of the Arcades (Sala delle Arcate) on the second floor is a large room formed by the classrooms built by Giuseppe Siggillino, Monsignor Di Macco, reforming 19th-century Archbishop of Matera. The Room hosts temporary exhibitions, conventions, and conferences.

The Sacred Art section features paintings, sculptures, and wooden and stone artifacts. The exhibits come mainly from churches of the region. The collection section features canvasses of the Neapolitan school of the 17th and 18th centuries. Contemporary Art includes the works of Luigi Guerricchio and Carlo Levi.

Levi, a protagonist of Italian culture of the 20th century, was banished by the Fascist government to the poverty-stricken area of Matera. He wrote his famous novel here, "Christ Stopped at Eboli." His paintings show the life of the peasants of the town.