Church of Santa Maria de Idris
Church of Santa Maria de Idris
4.5
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This church is carved into a huge rock pinnacle jutting from the lip of a gorge.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
795 reviews
Excellent
446
Very good
264
Average
62
Poor
16
Terrible
7
phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA13,464 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We visited the church as part of the FAI combined ticket. No photos allowed inside. There are remnants of some frescos, and an altar. Visit for its historic significance, not its beauty. This won’t be a long visit.
It is actually two small churches, Santa Maria de Idris and San Giovanni Monterrone, which are joined together.
Great views of Matera, the gorge, and the church of San Pietro e Paolo from the terrace in front of the church.
Written September 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A I come lunga e Ieie si ripete
Key Largo, FL774 contributions
Oct 2020 • Solo
Church ⛪ in the stones of Matera, very singular place, I recommend you to go and visit it
Boom skrrr pauw pauw
Boom skrrr pauw pauw
Written October 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dakkas S
Isola d'Ischia, Italy76 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Carved into the rock at its summit it's the focal point of the town! Very beautiful the view from outside the two churches. Worth the ticket!
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sydneyside
Sydney, Australia718 contributions
Sep 2019 • Couples
This church like all in Matera is beautiful. It is amazing that there are so many churches in such a small area. Lived the frescoes and statues. Just fantastic to see.
Written September 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
judsonchristopher22
Wembley, UK26 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
The frescoes are somewhat faded and incomplete, but they are worth visiting for their historical interest.
Written May 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ray V
Malta426 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
The hewn rock church of the Madonna de Idris is an enduring relic of Byzantine faith with fading icons painted into the rockface. The faint saintly images have survived the ravages of time but are crying for some professional preservation before they fade away entirely into memory. The rock-church is a historical gem, not just for its location and expression of early faith but for its association with the community’s petition for water. The Holy Mother’s appellation of Idris is a Greek derivation for water. The figures depicted in the painted portraits represent the most popular Byzantine saints venerated in this part of medieval Europe. The rock-church is reasonably well presented through a photo-exhibition and other literary material at the guide’s desk, who can prove quite helpful with information if courteously engaged.
Written February 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ossie Dias-Gunawardena
Bicester, UK464 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
The complex consists of 2 churches built into the rock. The church of Madonna de Iris is mentioned in 14th century documents, and owes its name to cisterns and basins used for the collection of water.
Written October 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LAWatercolor
Portland, ME52 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
Santa Maria de Idris was the highlight of our exploration of Matera. Beginning with a small church, it unfolds into ever more marvels carved deep within the cavern. The claustrophobic sense of what it must have been like to live in these caves is immediate, and the system of cisterns (which earned Matera its UNESCO listing) fascinating.
Written April 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guddejane
London, UK15 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
This church hewn from the rock has some exquisite frescoes, for example those depicting the archangel Michael and St Nicholas from the 13th century and one of the Annunciation from the 12th century.
Written June 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marcopolo111
Cleveland, Oh2,825 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
Well worth a visit. Tho relatively small churches, one carved inside the soft rock, with a great view of Matera, the river canyon and the valley.
Written March 13, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Church of Santa Maria de Idris
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Church of Santa Maria de Idris Information
Excellent Reviews | 446 |
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Very Good Reviews | 264 |
Church of Santa Maria de Idris Photos | 293 |