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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

The Domenico Ridola National Archaeological Museum

Matera, Italy

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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The Museo Nazionale di Matera is actually not a single museum. It is part of a unified museum system that combines three separate locations in Matera, Italy.

The one we visited in the main section of Historical Matera was the Domenico Ridola National Archaeological Museum, which was founded in 1911.

Ridola practiced medicine, rose up to the level of Senator in his civic life, and donated his significant archaeological collections to the Italian state.

This museum offers a full range look at prehistoric times to the current era of what is now known as Matera.

The front of the Domenico Ridola National Archaeological Museum, Matera, Italy

Domenico Ridola National Archaeological Museum

Just down the street from our apartment, this was an easy place to walk to.

The museum’s collection has archaeological finds unearthed in the Matera area, with artifacts dating from the Old Stone Age all the way through to the 3rd century BC.

There are also some important paintings of the Sassi, photographs of the residents living there, and some 16th to 18th century paintings.

Ticket for entering the Domenico Ridola National Archaeological Museum, Matera, Italy

Entrance ticket to the Museo

The price of entry to this museum was $6E each which included an extra Euro to help pay for the damage due to the floods in Italy.

 

 

 

 

Of course, my first questions (unexpressed, of course) were "Which floods in Italy? Where were they located? Who handles the management of that money you have collected? Who exactly receives that money and what percent of that money that you collect actually goes towards the payment for the damage done by floods? Can you prove that the money actually goes there?"

I did not ask any of these questions, and I thought it was reasonable to inquire, but we went along quietly instead.

Beautiful gardens at the Domenico Ridola National Archaeological Museum, Matera, Italy

The beautiful gardens at the museum

Many of the museums we visited in Italy had these lovely gardens.

One could wander around them or sit on a bench and enjoy the beauty.

The poet Rocco Scotellaro in a painting of the Sassi, Museo Nationale di Matera, Italy

The poet Ricco Scotellaro

The next 4 photos are of a painting that Carlo Levi produced demonstrating the life of the residents of The Sassi.

The man in the center of this section is the poet Ricco Scotellaro.

Mr. Scotellaro used his writing to depict the harsh realities of life in the Italian region of Basilicata, particularly the poverty and struggles faced by the residents of The Sassi. His poems and stories brought a voice to their plight and thereby gathered attention to their social and economic hardships.

He was well-loved by the local community for his dedication to them.

Levi's painting with Scotellaro's death being mourned by the local people

Rocco died at an early age - he was only 30 - and this section of the painting shows him lying deceased in a cave, surrounded by the people who mourned him.

Scotellaro gave the people hope with the uplifting messages in his poems. He celebrated the rich cultural heritage of Lucania (the ancient name of the town) in his works. Incorporating their dialect in his poems, he showcased the beauty and depth of the local language. This resonated deeply with the people of Matera, who felt their identity acknowledged and valued.

Scotellaro wasn't an outsider looking in. He lived among the people, shared their experiences, and formed genuine connections. This authenticity and empathy resonated with the Matera residents, who saw him as one of their own.

Carlo Levi Painting of the Sassi in the Museo Nationale di Matera, Italy

Another section of Levi's painting

The large canvas spans over 60 feet long and 10+ feet high and is divided into 3 main parts. This particular section depicts daily life in The Sassi.

Carlo Levi wanted to paint the reality of the village and he had photographer Mario Carbone come and take his famous black and white photos. From these photos, Levi was able to produce real faces of the people there, the actual dress and activities of routine living.

Levi encountered firsthand the extreme poverty, social injustices, and harsh living conditions faced by the Lucanian people. The experience deeply affected him and motivated him to document their struggles.

His scenes are inspired by Lucanian everyday life, some taken by Mario Carbone’s photos.

His powerful written and artistic portrayals of the Lucanian people and their plight contributed to the social and political movements that ultimately led to the government's intervention and the relocation of residents from The Sassi in the 1950s.

Carlo Levi's painting of the people in The Sassi, Matera, Italy

Some of the men in The Sassi

The Sassi was "Italy's disgrace" for lack of public assistance. Their poverty and hardship were an embarrassment to the Italian government and the Post-World-War-II government and other well-meaning northern Italian politicians quickly intervened.

They forced the dirt-poor, illiterate, often sick with malaria, Sassi-dwellers to abandon their homes, where they’d always lived in the same room with all their domestic animals.

From the "kindness" of the minds of government, these people were moved 15 kilometers away to a brand-new settlement called “La Martella.” With brand-new comfortable homes, they were not given the necessary facilities for farming.

Because they could not feed their own and many had a hard time adjusting, the project was considered a failure. Since this was so, it caused mass immigration to northern Italy and to Northern Europe.

It wasn't until the 1980s - decades after The Sassi was all but abandoned - that the area was renovated and became the tourist location that it is today.

Young boy with water pitcher on his shoulders, Mario Carbone photograph of The Sassi, Matera, Italy

Photographs by Mario Carbone

Mario Carbone was a photographer and documentary maker.

He carried out a large photographic campaign in Basilicata (the newer name for Lucania) in 1960, while accompanying Carlo Levi (the painter) on the preparatory journey for the large canvas you saw above.

Carbone had a committed eye and registered in his dazzling black and white photos what Levi wanted to incorporate into his painting. 

Mario Carbone photo of 2 women having a conversation, The Sassi, Matera, Italy

Carbone photo of 2 women having a conversation

In this Museo Nationale, there is an area that displays Levi's large painting and then about 70 photographs depicting the Sassi.

Even though many were moved out from their homes there was still a partial population. Carbone captured their neighborhoods, the squares, and the alleys. But above all he caught the look of the people, who still lived in the caves, with their very human daily life.

Mario Carbone photo of woman doing laundry, The Sassi, Matera, Italy

Woman doing laundry

This photo shows some of the details of daily life. Notice the clothes pins dangling from this woman's waist as she hangs out her laundry to dry.

Notice also the narrow walkways between dwellings, the stone paths, and someone's pet cat.

 

 

 

 

Paliotto d’altare, a Medieval painting i n Museo national di Matera, Italy

Medieval painting

In another section altogether are these Medieval paintings.

This painting is titled "Paliotto d’altare" and was created by an Italian artist active in the 14th century.

It’s a tempera and gold leaf painting on wood panel. The name “Paliotto d’altare” translates to “altar frontal” and was likely created for a church altar.

Archangel St. Michael, casting out demons, Matera Museo, Italy

Archangel Michael slaying evil beasts

Archangel Michael - a warrior angel - is considered the leader of the angelic army in the war against evil.

He's seen as a powerful protector of humanity from demonic forces as you see above.

It is a common theme to have St. Michael represented as casting Satan and the rebellious angels out of heaven.

Here he holds the scales of justice, where the souls of the deceased are weighed against their deeds. He ensures a fair judgment and protects the righteous.

Medieval elite playing cards, Matera National Museum, Italy

The elite playing cards

With all the suffering of the Sassi, and the warrior angels fighting demons, it was a bit strange to see these elites sitting down playing games of cards.

In Medieval times, card games were seen as a way to display wealth and social status. The more elaborate the cards and the stakes of the game, the higher the social standing of the participants.

The most common card deck used was the French-suited, standard 52-card pack, which we pretty much still use today.

Many card games required skill and strategy, and for the elite, these card games offered a mental challenge and a way to test their wits against others.

Some card games mirrored conditions of war and politics, offering a safe space to practice strategic thinking and decision-making, which could be valuable skills in real life.

Except, of course, I can bet that these people never did their own laundry, grew their own food or lived in a cave...

The Museo Nationale di Matera is worth seeing and if you are in Historical Matera, it's right on the main street.

Take a walk in and allow 1-2 hours to enjoy it all.

__________

The Domenico Ridola National Archaeological Museum

Via Domenico Ridola, 24

75100 Matera (MT) Basilicata, Italy

Tele: +39 0835 310058

Email:  mn-mt@cultura.gov.it

Email:  mn-mt@pec.cultura.gov.it

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About the Authors

 
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

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