Piazza Vittorio Veneto (Vittorio Veneto Square), Matera

In 1918, the Austro-Hungarian army was defeated; they lost a battle. It was in the region of Veneto, near a town named King Vittorio Emanuele II. Afterward, the location was named Vittorio Veneto. Soon, many places were called Vittorio Veneto, even the Plebiscite Square (Piazza Del Plebiscito) in the southern city of Matera.

The Vittorio Veneto Square was originally Fontana Square for the fountain, restored in 1832 by King Ferdinando II. It was later called Plebiscite Square in favor of the Plebiscite of Rome in 1870. The spacious square overlooks the Annunziata Palace (Palazzo dell'Annunziata) and the Church of San Domenico.

The unique attraction of the square is the terrace with three round arches named Luigi Guerricchio Belvedere for the artist of Matera, Luigi Guerricchio. It is a portico with commanding city views, especially the Cathedral Basilica, Maria Santissima della Bruna. But the most remarkable attraction of the square is what lies under it.

Under the square are the old snow storage rooms, the Palombaro Lungo reservoir, and a tower once attached to the rear wall of Tramontano Castle. The Palombaro Lungo is an enormous cistern and part of the water collection system that feeds the fountain of King Ferdinand and once supplied the entire city with water.

Vittorio Veneto Square is an open-air venue for markets; and a popular meeting place for locals. The surrounding buildings trace the artistic heritage of city architecture through different periods.