The events that come to life in Matera, from religious and folkloristic ones to gastronomic festivals, bring the beautiful Lucanian town back to life and allow visitors to discover old traditions. One example is the centuries-old Festa della Bruna, celebrated on 2 July with the evocative procession of shepherds. The latter starts at 5 am, when the picture painted on copper depicting the patron saint of the people of Matera makes its way through the city centre. One of the most characteristic moments is the procession of the Knights, who escort the statue of the Madonna wearing brightly coloured period costumes. In the afternoon, one can watch the parade of the triumphal cart made exclusively of papier-mâché, which is then destroyed in an emotionally charged ritual that mixes the sacred and the profane.
Other cult events worth experiencing are the Living Nativity Scene and the Mater Sacra at Easter. From the beginning of December until Epiphany, Matera, especially when snow-covered with white flakes, offers truly magical and evocative moments. The various caves present resemble those in Galilee where Jesus may have been born, while the artfully laid-out streets teeming with hundreds of figures come alive with musical backgrounds. The scenes of the Annunciation and the Nativity, among others, will be recreated, as well as ancient crafts. The Street of the Cross, at Easter time, will also have the same pathos: the Mater Sacra recalls the death of Christ in an atmosphere that truly moves everyone. It is precisely in the stony district that the Passion narrative takes place with processions and historical re-enactments, which find their ideal dimension in these places.
At the beginning of August, in the Rione La Martella, ‘La Capriata‘ is organised, a festival that brings the people of Matera together around one of the area’s typical dishes. The capriata, in fact, is the symbol of the struggle for survival against a too-often hostile land; this soup contains many ingredients: broad beans, chickpeas, beans, lentils, tomatoes, onions, wheat, garlic, celery and new potatoes, and its success depends on how well each element is cooked. The event also includes live performances, concerts, entertainment and guided tours that will take you on a discovery of the Olivetti Foundation’s urban experiment!
For the past few years, the small but characteristic medieval village of Miglionico – a few kilometres from Matera and the San Giuliano Nature Reserve – has hosted the International Bread Festival in September. In the town’s central square and inside the Malconsiglio Castle, famous for the barons’ conspiracy against King Ferdinand I, the Lievito Madre Association organises and curates a series of conferences and meetings that will have as their main theme one of the essential foods of our tables: bread. In addition, there will be numerous side events such as exhibitions, live music, tastings and workshops dedicated solely to bread, which here is a true ‘sacred meal’, created with the best local flours.
