Built by religious orders, many of Basilicata's monasteries contain relics and treasures of the past as well as being monuments to God. A huge monastic complex, the Abbazia della Santissima Trinità is located in Venosa, a small town at the bottom of Mount Vulture. Built in 1046 by the Benedictines, the complex houses the fresco-filled Holy Trinity Church and a medieval abbey. Another important monastic complex, the Madonna delle Virtù and San Nicola dei Greci, is found in Matera. This medieval center originally was home to Benedictine monks, and was restored in the 17th century. Today, the monastery's church is used to house modern art at certain times of the year.
Churches are common sights in Italy and are precious monuments to spirituality. The Melfi area is home to the Crypt of Santa Margherita, a church built in a cave and filled with frescos and other forms of art, which together retell the story of the life of Saint Margaret. The San Francesco d'Assisi in Potenza is another church containing religious frescos and a decorated tomb built in the 16th century.
The Venosa area is home to the Parco Archeologico which contains the fallen remains of a Roman town, investigated by archaeologists since the first half of the 19th century. Prominent areas of the Roman settlement, such as the thermal baths and the amphitheatre, alongside residential buildings, are available for public viewing.
The Redentore in Matera is a formidable presence to rival the Christ figure in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This huge Christ statue constructed of marble by Bruno Innocenti and completed in 1965, stands on the top of the Monte San Biagio mountain. Tourists ascend the road up the mountain from the town to examine the Redentore. Still in Matera, the monument known as the Santuario di San Biagio houses the supposed remains of San Biagio, patron of Matera, inside a marble urn. The monument rests atop a former temple of the goddess Minerva.
