San Martino D'Agri

Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri Lagonegrese / Municipalities

The Museo Nazionale di Policoro (National Museum of Policoro) preserves traces of the most ancient life of this town, discovered at the localities of Trifulco and Tempa Fornace.
Like the surrounding towns, there are two reliable explanations of its possible origins. One holds that it was founded by a core group who escaped the destruction of Grumentum, while the other contends that it is linked to groups of Basilian monks who, moving up the course of the Agri river, settled here in communities, spreading religion and techniques for cultivating the land.
In a document from 1306 the site is referred to as ‘Casale San Martini de pauperibus’.
It belonged to the county of the Chiaromonte, of the Templars and Knights of Malta. In 1462 it became a fief of the Sanseverino princes of Bisignano who, in 1565, sold it to the Sifola of Trani, because it represented a poor source of income for them.
It belonged to the Sifola family until the abolition of feudalism in 1806.
Today it is a village of great character which, with its system of alleys and houses, breaks up the vast sea of greenery that surrounds it.
The major monument in the village centre is the chiesa di San Francesco (church of St. Francis), built in 1512 and refurbished in 1714. Part of the convent of the Frati Minori Riformati (Reformed Friars Minor), it has a single nave with rich decorations.
Inside, a multi-panelled altarpiece, of which nine panels remain set into the false ceiling but which originally consisted of fifteen panels, is of great quality. It dates back to 1538 and was created by a master artist of San Martino d'Agri.
A large altarpiece of painted wood from the sixteenth century depicts Our Lady of the Rosary and scenes from the life of Jesus.
Several oil canvases from the seventeenth century (the Risen Christ between the Virgin, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Charles Borromeo), along with Neapolitan-school wooden statues of Mary Immaculate, St. Anthony, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Francis adorn the church and fascinate the visitor.
Striking, and also inside, is a seventeenth-century fresco of the Crucifixion with the city of Jerusalem, attributed to Giovanni De Gregorio, better known as Pietrafesa.
There are other frescoes to admire in the cloister, featuring rich floral decorations, images of madonnas and saints according to Franciscan hagiography.
Another church in the village is the chiesa Madre di San Lorenzo Martire (mother church of St. Lawrence the Martyr), dedicated to the Vergine della Rupe (virgin of the cliff), was rebuilt in 1893 over a small chapel constructed on a cliff.
Continuing along the narrow streets one can admire the simple stone houses, a number of noble buildings such as the sixteenth-century Palazzo Baronale Sifola, the Palazzo De Pierro ,Palazzo Vitale, Palazzo Sivolella), and some chapels - the cappella del Gesù morto (chapel of the deceased Jesus), the cappella della Madonna delle Grazie (chapel of Our Lady of the Graces), and the cappella di San Leonardo (chapel of St. Leonard).
Outside the residential centre, on the peak of Mount Raparello at 1288m, is the santuario Madonna Santissima della Rupe (sanctuary of Our Holy Lady of the Cliff). A journey to discover scenic beauty, moments of inner meditation and stories of popular devotion.

References

Sources
I mille sapori del verde (The thousand flavours of green) (guida al Parco dell'Appennino Lucano) (guide to the Appennino Lucano National Park), Clementi - publisher;
Carta del patrimonio storico architettonico e archeologico fruibile (Map of accessible architectural and archaeological heritage), Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri Lagonegrese National Park - Publisher, first edition, January 2010;
Carta dei luoghi sacri nel Parco (Map of religious sites in the Park), Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri Lagonegrese National Park - Publisher, first edition, January 2010.

Photo
Video

Spinoso

7.98 Km

Trekking nel Parco Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri Lagonegrese

33.37 Km

See also

San Chirico Raparo

4.79 Km

Armento

7.42 Km

Spinoso

7.98 Km

Montemurro

8.53 Km

Gallicchio

9.17 Km

Castelsaraceno

9.92 Km

Carbone

11.33 Km

Sarconi

13.89 Km