San Mauro Forte is an Italian municipality of 1,417 inhabitants[1] in the province of Matera in Basilicata. It is affiliated to the association. The town is located on a hill at 540 m above sea level. in the central-western part of the province; its territory borders to the north with the municipalities of Salandra (14 km), Oliveto Lucano (15 km) and Garaguso (17 km), to the east with Ferrandina (31 km), to the south with Craco (25 km) and Stigliano (31 km), and to the west with Accettura (14 km). It is 66 km from Matera and 71 km from the regional capital Potenza.
San Mauro Forte is included in the territory of the Collina Materana mountain community. national oil city tion. The center has very ancient origins, as evidenced by the numerous discoveries that have occurred in the area; in the Timponi area a building dating back to the 8th century BC was discovered. and in the Priati area some tombs from the 4th century BC. The current center dates back to the Norman era, presumably to 1060, and its name derives from an ancient Benedictine monastery dedicated to San Mauro around which the town developed, which was completely fortified; Access to the town was guaranteed by four gates, one of which is still present today, while on the east side a three-storey tower was built, located in what is now the main square. The adjective Forte was added later to the name San Mauro to remember how the town managed to repel the gangs of brigands of the Spanish Borjes in 1861. San Mauro Forte belonged to the county of Montescaglioso and starting from the 15th century it came under the dominion of the Orsini Del First Balzo, by Del Balzo and subsequently by Sanseverino, Carafa and Colonna. In 1751 San Mauro managed to free himself from the feudal yoke, when he was redeemed by four buyers including the d'Eufemias, former administrators of the old feudal lords, who, invested with the title of barons, settled in the town, building their residences within the medieval walls There are numerous noble palaces dating back to the eighteenth century: all have valuable ornamental elements such as stone portals, floral friezes, and testify to the relationship that the owners had with Neapolitan culture, documented in particular by paintings of Neapolitan inspiration present in the private chapels. The most important buildings are:
Palazzo Arcieri Bitonti, which on the ground floor houses the multimedia museum "In Viaggio In Basilicata".
Palazzo Arcieri, formerly the Town Hall and Magistrates' Court, currently hosts the citizen "Museum of Rural Civilization" in some rooms.
Palazzo Lauria, with a baroque portal from 1770, a private chapel, and various antique furniture inside, including two Venetian chests from the 1600s.
Del Turco Palace
Palazzo Acquaviva, with chapel.
Deufemia Palace
Scalese Palace
Palazzo Montesano di Montemurro, located in via Regina Margherita, today owned by the Granata/Montesano family.
Mase Palace
Disanza Palace
Honored Palace