List of Countries » Italy » Matera and its province » Ex Ospedale San Rocco
INTRODUCTION
The former hospital of San Rocco is located in Matera (Piazza San Giovanni Battista), just outside the Sassi, which have been defined as "one of the most unique landscapes in Europe".
Panoramic views of Sassi, Matera
A BACKGROUND HISTORY
The hospital's construction is closely connected to that of the Church of San Giovanni Battista, built in 1233 and later called Santa Maria la Nova.
Facade of the Church of San Giovanni Battista (1905)1
Central nave of the San Giovanni Battista Church
In 1348, after the Plague afflicted the city, the Universitas of Matera (from the latin universi cives, "totality of all citizens" -a term used to describe a Southern Italian district during the Lombardic domination) constructed the hospital in front of the Church to receive pilgrims, sick and needy.2
THE HOSPITAL AS A MONASTERY
The structure, which over the years had survived in straitened circumstances, was in bad condition by the end of the sixteenth century. In 1604 the complex was given to the community of Reformed Franciscans who then constructed a new monastery in place of the hospital.3
A NEW LOCATION FOR THE HOSPITAL
The population, deprived of the hospital because of its new use as a monastery, decided to construct a new building in 1610 and chose, as the site for it, the area next to the Church of Santa Maria la Nova that had not been used for over a century, as the nuns has abandoned it in 1480. The new hospital had a courtyard with various rooms leading off it and a large hall.4
Piazza San Giovanni Battista
Map of the structure (1610)5
The Hospital's courtyard
In 1615, the structure of the hospital was expanded with the Church of Cristo Flagellato (nowadays deconsecrated) that was built in the courtyard and entrusted to the Confraternity of Artists.6 The Church was rebuilt in 1708 and frescoed in 1710 at the expense of various patrons.
Details of the Church of Cristo Flagellato7
A NEW RUNNING
When the Hospitaller Fathers of Saint John of God arrived to run the hospital in 1726, the whole complex underwent a restructuring programme that culminated in the building of a more decorous portal to the entrance, which bore the coat of arms of the religious order –a pomegranate surmounted by a cross- and that of the city of Matera; an inscription in large letters indicated the complex’s function.8
Coat of arms of the Hospitaller Fathers of Saint John of God on the front door
"CHI VUOL FARE DEL CIEL UN DEGNO ACQUISTO ENTRI QUI DENTRO A VISITAR GL'INFERMI CON MAN PORGENTE AL CUOR DI CRISTO - A.D. 1610"
(Inscription on the Facade)
THE HOSPITAL AS A PRISON
The Hospitaller Fathers of Saint John of God did not stay very long. In 1749 they suddenly abandoned the city because they did not agree with the decision to transfer a large number of prisoners to the hospital. From then onwards the building was to undergo major alterations; the former hospital was used as a prison and as the offices of the Red Cross.9
Old aspect of the hospital as a prison (XVIII century)10
Nowadays doors with grating
THE HOSPITAL TODAY
The story of the former hospital is not over yet. Today it hosts several events like conferences, books’ presentations, art exhibitions that attract many tourists.
- Photos and main text by Nicolò Cefalo moc.liamg|7olafec.olocin#| and Maria Tucci ti.liamtoh|99.iccutairam#| (December 2017)
- Locate the item on this Google Map
Bibliography
- F. Di Pede- G. Buonsanti, I luoghi della memoria, Matera 1988, pp. 30-36
- Benigno Francesco Perrone, I conventi della serafica riforma di S. Nicolò in Puglia (1590-1835), Galatina 1981, vol.II, pp. 25-37
Sitography
- Ex Hospital San Rocco webpage in Rassegna Urbanistica Nazionale
- Ex Hospital San Rocco webpage in WikiMatera