Irsina, Montepelòse in local dialect, is a small pearl in the province of Matera. Perched on the top of a hill and still with the walls that embrace the old town, it is a perfect destination to rediscover the history of our country; in fact, it was first a reference point for the Greeks and Romans, then a medieval city fortified and disputed, destroyed and rebuilt several times.
One of the main attractions of the old town is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, guardian of a timeless treasure: the statue of Saint Euphemia sculpted by the genius of Andrea Mantegna, a very rare testimony of his sculptural activity; only in the 18th century, after alternating events, the statue took its place in the church named after her, near the high altar; a sculpture of international interest: it is no coincidence that in 2008 it was even a guest at the Louvre in Paris on the occasion of the exhibition in honour of the artist.
