Top of the World
The church of the New Purgatory was built between 1726 and 1747 with the economic contribution of the Confraternity of the Holy Souls of Purgatory and some citizens. The facade is clearly late Baroque inspired and stands out in the urban context in which the church is located for its convex shape that, together with the internal structure, makes it unique among the places of worship in Matera. The decorations of the portal and the entire façade are inspired by the themes of death and eternal life. The façade is interspersed with pilasters and is divided into two parts by a stringcourse: in the upper part stands out a niche that houses a statue of the Madonna and Child, which are surrounded by decorations representing angels and other ornamental elements; in the lower part is of considerable impact the central portal richly decorated, on the lintel is carved a scene depicting two skeletons that flank a damned soul; on the sides there are two smaller doors surmounted by niches that house on the right the statue of the Archangel Michael and on the left that of the Archangel Raphael. The interior has a circular plan and is marked by 4 pairs of columns made of local stone but decorated to look like marble, on them rests a wooden dome decorated with depictions of the four evangelists and the fathers of the church. In addition to the three altars, the 18th century organ and the wooden pulpit are worthy of note.
