Ferrandina: MAFE, Church Art and Majatica Olives
Accommodation in Ferrandina
Ferrandina Amid Hilly Landscapes and History
Ferrandina is set in a hilly landscape with steeply sloping terrain. More than 200,000 Majatica olive trees grow in the area. This combination of rugged terrain and a local crop gives the town a distinctive character.
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Photo: DinaBenedettoFerrandina via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
MAFE: Archaeology and Virtual Exploration
MAFE opened in 2021 with the permanent exhibition “Ferrandina: storia e archeologia di un territorio millenario” and is housed in the monumental complex of San Domenico. The MAFE VR Experience allows visitors to virtually explore a fortified Lucanian city from the 4th century BC. Another archaeological trace is the remains of an olive mill from the 4th century BC, which were found in Ferrandina. Both archaeological references date to the 4th century BC, but appear in different forms: as a virtual city and as the remains of an olive mill in Ferrandina.
Monasteries, Churches and Works of Art
The foundation stone of the Monastero di Santa Chiara was laid in June 1610. Construction of the Convento di San Domenico was completed in 1790. The Biblioteca Comunale is located on the first floor of the former Convento di San Domenico. The Chiesa Madre di Santa Maria della Croce was built in the late 15th century in the Romanesque-Apulian style and houses a wooden statue of the Madonna della Croce dating from 1530. The Chiesa della Madonna del Carmine contains a carved wooden door from the 16th century and the painting “L’Apparizione della Madonna a San Giacinto” from 1606. In addition to the architectural forms, the sacred furnishings include a wooden statue, a carved wooden door and a painting with its own date.
Further Historical Sites
Sections of the outer walls and some interior rooms remain from the ruins of Castello di Uggiano. The Museo Comunale della CiviltĂ Contadina e dei Mestieri Antichi comprises seven exhibition rooms with agricultural equipment, tools used by carpenters and blacksmiths, kitchen utensils and everyday objects. The museum is located on the first floor of the Monastero di Santa Chiara and offers workshops and educational activities for schools and visitors. The focus here is on the material traces of rural and craft life, not on sacred art or ancient finds.
Getting There and Personal Travel Planning
The SS 407 Basentana leads to an exit for Ferrandina. If you choose Ferrandina as your base, you can incorporate this travel information into your personal daily planning alongside your cultural interests. MAFE, churches, historic monastery buildings, museums and the hilly landscape offer different areas of focus. This allows you to decide in advance whether archaeology, sacred art, everyday history or the landscape should be the main focus of your trip.
More Destinations
More destinations: Tursi, Bernalda, Accettura, Marconia, Policoro, Aliano, Salandra, Grottole
To the higher-level travel overview: Matera.
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