Porta Matera

Porta Matera was one of the main gates of the old city of Altamura. They were part of the City Walls of Altamura (dating back to Middle Ages and rebuilt in 1648), which were completely demolished during the Nineteenth century since they had become useless for defence purposes. The gate itself was demolished in 1872.[2] The monastery Monastero del Soccorso is located on the left side of the gate, while on the right some ruins of the city walls can be seen, presumably saved from destruction because of the bas-relief depicting "Pipino's leg" (relating to the killing and subsequent dismemberment of Giovanni Pipino di Altamura in the Middle Ages).

Porta Matera
The square where Porta Matera was located
TypeGate
Location Italy
Nearest cityAltamura
Coordinates40.825446°N 16.552813°E / 40.825446; 16.552813
BuiltMiddle Ages
Original useOne of the main gates of the City Walls of Altamura
Demolished1872[1]
Rebuilt16th-17th centuries
Current useOne of the gates of Altamura's historic centre

In the past, it was known as porta montium, which is Latin and it means "the gate that leads to the mountains" of Italian region Basilicata.[3][4] Nowadays, the gate is known mostly because of the Altamuran Revolution (1799).

Pipino's leg
The bas-relief depicting "Pipino's leg"

Some ruins of the medieval city walls of Altamura (not to be confused with the Megalithic Walls of Altamura) are still visibile on the right side of Porta Matera. The ruins were not demolished probably because of the historical importance of the area: a leg of Giovanni Pipino di Altamura (1357) was exposed on that part of the city walls. Giovanni Pipino, because of his rebellious behavior, was hanged on the battlements of Altamura Castle and his body was later dismembered. His body parts were displayed inside the city as a warning to the population, and one of those was displayed on the left side of Porta Matera. In memory of this, a bas-relief ("Pipino's leg") was later made and placed on top of the walls; this bas-relief was then destroyed and rebuilt in 1648 during the restoration works of the city walls and it's still visible.[5][6][7][8]

The Altamuran Revolution
Detail of Porta Matera, taken from the painted ceiling of Palazzo arcivescovile, located in Matera (Salone degli stemmi); painted by Anselmo Palmieri di Polla in 1709 and discovered by Tommaso Berloco in 1973.[9]

Porta Matera is known mainly for having been a the gate through which the Sanfedisti, led by Cardinal Fabrizio Ruffo, penetrated into the city during the battle of the Altamuran Revolution (1799) (Neapolitan Republic of 1799).[10] During this battle, many Altamurans and Sanfedisti were killed. Among those were Altamuran citizens Maurizio D'Alesio and Giuseppe Tubito, who were torn apart by a grenade explosion. Moreover, an old widow called "vedova Turco" was killed by Sanfedisti right after their entry into the city; her house was located close to Porta Matera and it was looted first by invaders. She was hit with sabers and closed into a lot that was then burnt; she was found after three days and healed by one of her relatives.[11]

In the square in front of Porta Matera, Giovanni Firrao was also killed by Fabrizio Ruffo himself on the same day the Sanfedisti entered the city (10 May 1799).[12]

Porta Matera in the 20th century
The gate of Porta Matera, rebuilt for the Renaisance fair Federicus
View of Porta Matera in an engraving by Francesco Cassiano de Silva (1650 ca. - 1750 ca.), taken from his work Descrizione delle città vescovali di tutto questo Regno di Napoli, e di alcune terre grosse disegnate al naturale; the engraving isn't particularly realistic, pehaps because it was made based upon a descrpition or a faded memory.[13]

References
  1. massafra-2002, p. 422
  2. massafra-2002, p. 422
  3. This detail is provided by Altamuran priest Vitangelo Frizzale, who rewrote the work by Domenico Santoro (pupillo-immagini, p. 31, note 31 and storie-inedite)
  4. https://terranostralccblog.wordpress.com/2016/10/01/leta-classica-i-peuceti-e-le-mura-megalitiche-ad-altamura/
  5. https://condottieridiventura.it/giovanni-pipino-d-altamura/
  6. [#vita-cola|vita-cola, p. 196]]
  7. matteovill, pp. 418-419
  8. pupillo-immagini, note 53
  9. pupillo-immagini, p. 44
  10. sacchinelli-memorie, p. 166
  11. vicenti-medaglioni
  12. vicenti-medaglioni
  13. pupillo-immagini, p. 40

Bibliography

See also
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