Matera, Italy: Top-Notch, Not So LIttle Museum Tells The Archeological History Of Ancient Matera

Museo Archeologico Nazionale Domenico Ridola   
Via Domenico Ridola 24
75100 Matera, Italy
Phone number +39 0835 310058
Website: MuseoArcheologicoMatera
Prices: €€€€

A hidden gem and excellent value in central Matera, it looks more like a bank than museum from the outside and entry is just €2 (teachers get a discount with ID). The museum is very well laid out so you can follow a single path rather than bounce back and fourth across and between rooms as is the case at many larger museums (the Smithsonian in DC and the Met in NYC come to mind).

For the minimal fee, you will find an abundance of archeological relics and remains dating back to the 6th Century B.C. as well as recreations of village life and cave paintings from that time in this 105 year old museum.

A great way to spend an hour or two on a blustery winter day as we did during the worst snowstorm in Matera over the past 60 years, you can leisurely stroll through at your own pace without hectic crowds hovering in front of you. The day we were there, we saw only one or two other couples in the museum the entire time. There is a room of to your right as you descend the stairs toward the exit with a snack and coffee machine which was quite reasonable (caffe latte, espresso, cappuccino, or hot chocolate were just €.40 each).

The staff are very friendly and helpful, but their English is limited and all exhibits as well as their App (with slideshows and verbal descriptions accessed via the web with a QR code reader) are only in Italian. Lack of English descriptions and translations were the only thing keeping me from giving them a perfect score.

CombatCritic Gives Museo Archeologico Nazionale Domenico Ridola 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Nine Bombs Equates To:

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Read Chris S.'s review of Museo Archeologico Nazionale Domenico Ridola on Yelp

Title: Matera, Italy: Top-Notch, Not So LIttle Museum Tells The Archeological History Of Ancient Matera

Key Words: Museo Archeologico Nazionale Domenico Ridola, Domenico, Ridola, Matera, Basilicata, museum, museo, archeologico, archeological, archeology, Italy, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, review, Yelp

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