Musma

The Museum of Contemporary Sculpture Matera (MUSMA) is one of the most important cultural institutions in Matera and a reference point for lovers of contemporary art. Inaugurated in 2006, MUSMA is housed in the seventeenth-century Palazzo Pomarici, also known as the “Palace of the Hundred Rooms” for its labyrinthine structure and vast extension on multiple levels, which also extends into the suggestive caves typical of the Sassi di Matera. MUSMA is unique in its kind, being the only “cave” museum in the world. This architectural context allows for an extraordinary fusion between the exhibited sculptures and the surrounding natural environment, creating an atmosphere that envelops and surprises the visitor. The placement of the works in the tuff caves, using niches and natural cavities, offers a unique visual and sensory experience, in which art directly dialogues with the city’s millennia-old history.The permanent collection of MUSMA includes over 400 works, including sculptures, drawings, medals, ceramics, and engravings, illustrating the evolution of Italian and international sculpture from the 19th century to the present day. The works come from donations by artists, collectors, art critics, and galleries from around the world, representing a wide range of styles and techniques. Among the artists present in the collection are illustrious names such as Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Manzù, Pietro Consagra, and many others. One of the distinctive features of MUSMA is its library, named after the Milanese publisher Vanni Scheiwiller, which houses over 6000 volumes and 200 videos. The library has a vast collection of monographs, catalogs, artist books, and documentaries, representing a valuable resource for scholars, students, and art enthusiasts. This space was conceived not only as an archive but also as a place for study and research, open to the academic community and the public. From an architectural point of view, Palazzo Pomarici represents a significant example of Lucanian architecture from the 16th century. Located on the edge of Civita, the oldest area of the Sassi di Matera, the palace is characterized by a portal surmounted by an arch with spiral geometric ornaments. The arrangement of the interior spaces, alternating frescoed rooms and environments carved into the rock, creates an exhibition path that enhances the works of art in a suggestive and engaging way.