MUSMA – Museo della Scultura Contemporanea Matera
Museum of contemporary sculpture in the Palazzo Pomarici in the Sasso Caveoso: around 270 works by 200 artists, displayed in rooms and natural caves.
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About the museum
The MUSMA, Museo della Scultura Contemporanea Matera, opened in 2006 and presents itself as the only cave museum in the world and as the most important Italian museum entirely dedicated to sculpture. It is managed by the cultural enterprise Synchronos, which has also been running other sites of the Fondazione Zetema, the foundation that promotes the museum, since 2011.
The museum is housed in the Palazzo Pomarici, a 16th-century building in the upper part of the Sassi, in the Caveoso district. The complex comprises seven naturally shaped underground rooms, three courtyards, four rooms with 17th-century wall paintings known as the Sale della Caccia, and ten rooms on the upper floor.
The permanent collection includes around 270 works by 200 artists and traces Italian and international sculpture from the late 19th century to the present day, with sculptures, ceramics, medals, jewellery, drawings, prints and artists’ books. Most of the pieces come from donations by artists, collectors, galleries and art critics. The artists represented include Kengiro Azuma, Pietro Consagra, Pericle Fazzini, Emilio Isgrò, Giacomo Manzù and Arnaldo Pomodoro.
Highlights
- The only cave museum, with seven underground rooms
- Around 270 works by 200 artists
- Palazzo Pomarici in the Caveoso district of the Sassi
- Sale della Caccia with 17th-century wall paintings
- Works by Manzù, Fazzini, Consagra and Pomodoro
- Ceramics, medals, jewellery and artists’ books
Permanent exhibition
- Collezione permanente di scultura – Sculptures, ceramics, medals, jewellery, drawings and artists’ books by Italian and international artists from the late 19th century to the present day.
- Founded
- 2006
- Operated by
- Synchronos (impresa culturale), per la Fondazione Zetema
- Visitors per year
- approx. 10,590 (2022)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Children aged 7–18, students, employees of the Ministry of Culture, groups of at least 15 people |
| Children & teens | €5free up to age 5 · Free admission under 6; reduced ticket for ages 7–18. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities. |
| Students & apprentices | €5 |
| Groups (15+ people) | €5 per person |
| Reduced ticket for members of FAI, ACI, Carta Giovani Nazionale, Archeo Club and other partner schemes | €7Full list of partner schemes on the website. |
| Guided tour (plus VAT) | €50In English €80 plus VAT; extraordinary opening €70 plus VAT. |
Free admission also for accredited journalists, licensed tourist guides on duty, members of the Circolo Culturale La Scaletta and holders of the AMACI card. Tickets are bought online via Artsupp.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The education department offers families and schools workshops such as “IO sono lo Scultore!”, “Filastroccando – Sculture in Filastrocca” and “Occhio alla forma!”.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours are available on request, along with educational activities for schools of all levels. |
