Church of Santa Maria De Idris

One of the most scenic rock churches in Matera

Perched on Monterrone, the cliff that lies in the middle of Sasso Caveoso, it is one of the most scenic rock churches. All in masonry with a tuff facade rebuilt around the fifteenth century after a collapse, and its bell gable, it has an interior that has completely lost its original layout. On the altar is a tempera painting of the Madonna and Child, dating back to the 17th century, and on the right is the figure of St. Eustace, patron saint of the city.

The church of Santa Maria de Idris is connected to the rock crypt of San Giovanni in Monterrone by a tunnel, where there are frescoes probably dating from the 12th to 17th centuries depicting Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist, Christ Pantocrator (12th cent.) and images of Archangel Michael and Saint Nicholas the bishop (13th cent.).