Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: San Giovanni Battista

The original settlement of Matera lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a complex of cave dwellings carved into the ancient river canyon. The settlement is divided into the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. The cave settlements in the area are an exceptional example in the Mediterranean area. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, Matera can be considered one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Greek, Roman, Langobard, and Byzantine history, which Matera shares with all of southern Italy, Saracens devastated the place in 938. It came under Norman rule in 1043, became a royal seat, and thus achieved considerable wealth. This bloom continued under the subsequent regiments of the Staufer and Anjou, and in 1270 the cathedral of Matera was completed. Already by the late 1800s, Matera's cave dwellings became noted for intractable poverty, poor sanitation, meager working conditions, and rampant disease. In 1948, when the city was hit by malaria, 15,000 people lived in 3,300 rooms. From the 1950s on the residents were relocated to newly built apartment blocks. Since the Sassi are now a museum town, tourism is also becoming increasingly important. Known as la città sotterranea ("the underground city"), the Sassi and the park of the Rupestrian Churches were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. In 2019, Matera was declared a European Capital of Culture. Today Matera has a population of about 60.000, who live in the city "above" the sassi. Dozens of small rock-hewn chapels, churches, and former hermitages are carved into the rocks here. In 1215, nuns in Matera from the Kingdom of Acre and, in 1220, they were granted the chapel of Santa Maria la Nova, previously a Benedictine establishment. In 1229, they began work on a new church as a replacement for this chapel. This was completed in 1236. In 1480, at the time of the Ottoman invasion of Otranto, the nuns abandoned the church, which lay outside the city walls. In 1695, due to the poor state of the nearby parish church, the archbishop of Matera and Acerenza transferred the parish to the abandoned 13th-century church. At the end of the 18th century, due to the deterioration of the three domes over the transept, they were demolished and replaced with vaults. To help contain the thrust of the new superstructure, the façade was lined with a series of arches, leaving visible the original 13th-century portal. The rose-window over the side poral Since I have already uploaded many photos from Matera from previous trips, I will only add a few now. If you want to see more photos from Matera, click here: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1334046

The original settlement of Matera lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a complex of cave dwellings carved into the ancient river canyon. The settlement is divided into the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. The cave settlements in the area are an exceptional example in the Mediterranean area. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, Matera can be considered one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Greek, Roman, Langobard, and Byzantine history, which Matera shares with all of southern Italy, Saracens devastated the place in 938. It came under Norman rule in 1043, became a royal seat, and thus achieved considerable wealth. This bloom continued under the subsequent regiments of the Staufer and Anjou, and in 1270 the cathedral of Matera was completed. Already by the late 1800s, Matera's cave dwellings became noted for intractable poverty, poor sanitation, meager working conditions, and rampant disease. In 1948, when the city was hit by malaria, 15,000 people lived in 3,300 rooms. From the 1950s on the residents were relocated to newly built apartment blocks. Since the Sassi are now a museum town, tourism is also becoming increasingly important. Known as la città sotterranea ("the underground city"), the Sassi and the park of the Rupestrian Churches were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. In 2019, Matera was declared a European Capital of Culture. Today Matera has a population of about 60.000, who live in the city "above" the sassi. Dozens of small rock-hewn chapels, churches, and former hermitages are carved into the rocks here. In 1215, nuns in Matera from the Kingdom of Acre and, in 1220, they were granted the chapel of Santa Maria la Nova, previously a Benedictine establishment. In 1229, they began work on a new church as a replacement for this chapel. This was completed in 1236. In 1480, at the time of the Ottoman invasion of Otranto, the nuns abandoned the church, which lay outside the city walls. In 1695, due to the poor state of the nearby parish church, the archbishop of Matera and Acerenza transferred the parish to the abandoned 13th-century church. At the end of the 18th century, due to the deterioration of the three domes over the transept, they were demolished and replaced with vaults. To help contain the thrust of the new superstructure, the façade was lined with a series of arches, leaving visible the original 13th-century portal. The floor plan is that of a Latin cross with a central nave. Most of the Romanesque capitals survived the centuries. Since I have already uploaded many photos from Matera from previous trips, I will only add a few now. If you want to see more photos from Matera, click here: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1334046

The original settlement of Matera lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a complex of cave dwellings carved into the ancient river canyon. The settlement is divided into the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. The cave settlements in the area are an exceptional example in the Mediterranean area. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, Matera can be considered one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Greek, Roman, Langobard, and Byzantine history, which Matera shares with all of southern Italy, Saracens devastated the place in 938. It came under Norman rule in 1043, became a royal seat, and thus achieved considerable wealth. This bloom continued under the subsequent regiments of the Staufer and Anjou, and in 1270 the cathedral of Matera was completed. Already by the late 1800s, Matera's cave dwellings became noted for intractable poverty, poor sanitation, meager working conditions, and rampant disease. In 1948, when the city was hit by malaria, 15,000 people lived in 3,300 rooms. From the 1950s on the residents were relocated to newly built apartment blocks. Since the Sassi are now a museum town, tourism is also becoming increasingly important. Known as la città sotterranea ("the underground city"), the Sassi and the park of the Rupestrian Churches were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. In 2019, Matera was declared a European Capital of Culture. Today Matera has a population of about 60.000, who live in the city "above" the sassi. Dozens of small rock-hewn chapels, churches, and former hermitages are carved into the rocks here. In 1215, nuns in Matera from the Kingdom of Acre and, in 1220, they were granted the chapel of Santa Maria la Nova, previously a Benedictine establishment. In 1229, they began work on a new church as a replacement for this chapel. This was completed in 1236. In 1480, at the time of the Ottoman invasion of Otranto, the nuns abandoned the church, which lay outside the city walls. In 1695, due to the poor state of the nearby parish church, the archbishop of Matera and Acerenza transferred the parish to the abandoned 13th-century church. At the end of the 18th century, due to the deterioration of the three domes over the transept, they were demolished and replaced with vaults. To help contain the thrust of the new superstructure, the façade was lined with a series of arches, leaving visible the original 13th-century portal. The floor plan is that of a Latin cross with a central nave. The crucifix Since I have already uploaded many photos from Matera from previous trips, I will only add a few now. If you want to see more photos from Matera, click here: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1334046

The original settlement of Matera lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a complex of cave dwellings carved into the ancient river canyon. The settlement is divided into the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. The cave settlements in the area are an exceptional example in the Mediterranean area. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, Matera can be considered one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Greek, Roman, Langobard, and Byzantine history, which Matera shares with all of southern Italy, Saracens devastated the place in 938. It came under Norman rule in 1043, became a royal seat, and thus achieved considerable wealth. This bloom continued under the subsequent regiments of the Staufer and Anjou, and in 1270 the cathedral of Matera was completed. Already by the late 1800s, Matera's cave dwellings became noted for intractable poverty, poor sanitation, meager working conditions, and rampant disease. In 1948, when the city was hit by malaria, 15,000 people lived in 3,300 rooms. From the 1950s on the residents were relocated to newly built apartment blocks. Since the Sassi are now a museum town, tourism is also becoming increasingly important. Known as la città sotterranea ("the underground city"), the Sassi and the park of the Rupestrian Churches were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. In 2019, Matera was declared a European Capital of Culture. Today Matera has a population of about 60.000, who live in the city "above" the sassi. Dozens of small rock-hewn chapels, churches, and former hermitages are carved into the rocks here. In 1215, nuns in Matera from the Kingdom of Acre and, in 1220, they were granted the chapel of Santa Maria la Nova, previously a Benedictine establishment. In 1229, they began work on a new church as a replacement for this chapel. This was completed in 1236. In 1480, at the time of the Ottoman invasion of Otranto, the nuns abandoned the church, which lay outside the city walls. In 1695, due to the poor state of the nearby parish church, the archbishop of Matera and Acerenza transferred the parish to the abandoned 13th-century church. At the end of the 18th century, due to the deterioration of the three domes over the transept, they were demolished and replaced with vaults. To help contain the thrust of the new superstructure, the façade was lined with a series of arches, leaving visible the original 13th-century portal. The floor plan is that of a Latin cross with a central nave. Since I have already uploaded many photos from Matera from previous trips, I will only add a few now. If you want to see more photos from Matera, click here: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1334046

The original settlement of Matera lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a complex of cave dwellings carved into the ancient river canyon. The settlement is divided into the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. The cave settlements in the area are an exceptional example in the Mediterranean area. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, Matera can be considered one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Greek, Roman, Langobard, and Byzantine history, which Matera shares with all of southern Italy, Saracens devastated the place in 938. It came under Norman rule in 1043, became a royal seat, and thus achieved considerable wealth. This bloom continued under the subsequent regiments of the Staufer and Anjou, and in 1270 the cathedral of Matera was completed. Already by the late 1800s, Matera's cave dwellings became noted for intractable poverty, poor sanitation, meager working conditions, and rampant disease. In 1948, when the city was hit by malaria, 15,000 people lived in 3,300 rooms. From the 1950s on the residents were relocated to newly built apartment blocks. Since the Sassi are now a museum town, tourism is also becoming increasingly important. Known as la città sotterranea ("the underground city"), the Sassi and the park of the Rupestrian Churches were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. In 2019, Matera was declared a European Capital of Culture. Today Matera has a population of about 60.000, who live in the city "above" the sassi. Dozens of small rock-hewn chapels, churches, and former hermitages are carved into the rocks here. In 1215, nuns in Matera from the Kingdom of Acre and, in 1220, they were granted the chapel of Santa Maria la Nova, previously a Benedictine establishment. In 1229, they began work on a new church as a replacement for this chapel. This was completed in 1236. In 1480, at the time of the Ottoman invasion of Otranto, the nuns abandoned the church, which lay outside the city walls. In 1695, due to the poor state of the nearby parish church, the archbishop of Matera and Acerenza transferred the parish to the abandoned 13th-century church. At the end of the 18th century, due to the deterioration of the three domes over the transept, they were demolished and replaced with vaults. To help contain the thrust of the new superstructure, the façade was lined with a series of arches, leaving visible the original 13th-century portal. Since I have already uploaded many photos from Matera from previous trips, I will only add a few now. If you want to see more photos from Matera, click here: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1334046

The original settlement of Matera lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a complex of cave dwellings carved into the ancient river canyon. The settlement is divided into the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. The cave settlements in the area are an exceptional example in the Mediterranean area. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, Matera can be considered one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Greek, Roman, Langobard, and Byzantine history, which Matera shares with all of southern Italy, Saracens devastated the place in 938. It came under Norman rule in 1043, became a royal seat, and thus achieved considerable wealth. This bloom continued under the subsequent regiments of the Staufer and Anjou, and in 1270 the cathedral of Matera was completed. Already by the late 1800s, Matera's cave dwellings became noted for intractable poverty, poor sanitation, meager working conditions, and rampant disease. In 1948, when the city was hit by malaria, 15,000 people lived in 3,300 rooms. From the 1950s on the residents were relocated to newly built apartment blocks. Since the Sassi are now a museum town, tourism is also becoming increasingly important. Known as la città sotterranea ("the underground city"), the Sassi and the park of the Rupestrian Churches were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. In 2019, Matera was declared a European Capital of Culture. Today Matera has a population of about 60.000, who live in the city "above" the sassi. Dozens of small rock-hewn chapels, churches, and former hermitages are carved into the rocks here. In 1215, nuns in Matera from the Kingdom of Acre and, in 1220, they were granted the chapel of Santa Maria la Nova, previously a Benedictine establishment. In 1229, they began work on a new church as a replacement for this chapel. This was completed in 1236. In 1480, at the time of the Ottoman invasion of Otranto, the nuns abandoned the church, which lay outside the city walls. In 1695, due to the poor state of the nearby parish church, the archbishop of Matera and Acerenza transferred the parish to the abandoned 13th-century church. At the end of the 18th century, due to the deterioration of the three domes over the transept, they were demolished and replaced with vaults. To help contain the thrust of the new superstructure, the façade was lined with a series of arches, leaving visible the original 13th-century portal. Since I have already uploaded many photos from Matera from previous trips, I will only add a few now. If you want to see more photos from Matera, click here: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1334046

This large structure, named "centopietre" is located just opposite San Giovanni Battista. It is believed, that "Centopietre" was built as a funerary monument in the 9th century for Geminiano, a knight killed by the Saracens. It is erected out of 100 limestone blocks from the near town of Vereto, that was completely destroyed by the Saracens.

Legends connect this church to a battle fought between Saracens and Christian armies in 877, but the small basilica is older and may have been erected already in the 6th century. The building has been remodelled several times over the centuries.

Legends connect this church to a battle fought between Saracens and Christian armies in 877, but the small basilica is older and may have been erected already in the 6th century. The building has been remodelled several times over the centuries.

Legends connect this church to a battle fought between Saracens and Christian armies in 877, but the small basilica is older and may have been erected already in the 6th century. The building has been remodelled several times over the centuries.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. The ruins of San Giovanni Battista, a three-nave pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century and a baptistery from the same time are located just outside Corte. Neighbouring this complex is a large given up military area with different buildings and hangars that now rust and crumble.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. The ruins of San Giovanni Battista, a three-nave pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century and a baptistery from the same time are located just outside Corte. Neighbouring this complex is a large given up military area with different buildings and hangars that now rust and crumble.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. The ruins of San Giovanni Battista, a three-nave pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century. For a long time this church has been reduced to its only apse. Excavations in the 1950s uncovered the base of the walls, the original floor. Seen here is the better preserved baptistery from the same time. For me this looks like a very rough trikonchos (clover), similar to many "round" baptiseries and chapels. Inside the baptistery.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. The ruins of San Giovanni Battista, a three-nave pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century. For a long time this church has been reduced to its only apse. Excavations in the 1950s uncovered the base of the walls, the original floor. Seen here is the better preserved baptistery from the same time. For me this looks like a very rough trikonchos (clover), similar to many "round" baptiseries and chapels. Inside the baptistery.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. The ruins of San Giovanni Battista, a three-nave pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century. For a long time this church has been reduced to its only apse. Excavations in the 1950s uncovered the base of the walls, the original floor. Seen here is the better preserved baptistery from the same time. For me this looks like a very rough trikonchos (clover), similar to many "round" baptiseries and chapels.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. The ruins of San Giovanni Battista, a three-nave pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century. For a long time this church has been reduced to its only apse. Excavations in the 1950s uncovered the base of the walls, the original floor and verified that the church plan was three naves separated by two rows of pillars. Located to the left is the better preserved baptistery from the same time. It has a clover - blueprint, what means a rectangular "nave" with three apses.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. The ruins of San Giovanni Battista, a three-nave pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century. For a long time this church has been reduced to its only apse. Excavations in the 1950s uncovered the base of the walls, the original floor and verified that the church plan was three naves separated by two rows of pillars. Located next to it stands (behind the tree) a better preserved baptistery from the same time.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. The ruins of San Giovanni Battista, a three-nave pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century. For a long time this church has been reduced to its only apse. Excavations in the 1950s uncovered the base of the walls, the original floor and verified that the church plan was three naves separated by two rows of pillars. Located next to it stands a better preserved baptistery from the same time.