Bernalda

Bernalda is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. The frazione of Metaponto is the site of the ancient city of Metapontum. Until the 15th century, it was called Camarda. It is home to a castle built in the 15th century during the Aragonese rule in the Kingdom of Naples. The patron Saint of Bernalda is Saint Bernardino of Siena. The celebration of Saint Bernardino is on 20 May and on 23 August. Main sights Mother Church: was built in the 1530s by Bernardino de Bernaudo. Originally the church was very small with only one nave. During the XVII, the church was built up with a second nave. In the church there were: a cemetery for priests under the choir, and a second cemetery for children who died within the seventh year of life near the baptisimal font. The church was refurbished in the 1950s, 1960s and 2000s. Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: this church is very ancient and it was subject to at least two or three refurbishiments and amplifications, before reaching the actual dimensions. In 1678 the church is only endowed with an altar with the image of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel painted on the wall. In the second half of the 19th century, it was enlarged to accommodate the statues and a big wooden 17th-century crucifix. Convent Church: The Convent of St. Antonio from Padova, with the attached church, was founded in 1616. At the time of the titling of the church, two factions arranged among the observants: a part that wanted to dedicate the church to the Immaculate, the other one to St. Antonio from Padova. The fate chose St. Antonio. The current front of the church was built in the 19th century. After the Italian unification many properties, often of historical importance and owned by the Ecclesiastical Fund, became state assets. So that the monks made over their convent to the Municipal offices. In the right nave is located the 19th-century crucifix. Other sights Castle of Bernalda The castle was probably built by the Normans, in the 11th century and restored by the Aragonese, during their domination, where it was enlarged, fortified and protected by a moat and a drawbridge. On the west side there is a thin square tower considered more ancient than the other towers of round shape. The façade of the Castle that overlooks the Mother Church is the result of a later restoration. Palaces Palazzo Margherita (Bernalda) Palazzo Fischetti Palazzo Lacava Palazzo Guida Palazzo Appio Notable people Francis Ford Coppola, American film director Nicolas Cage (born Nicholas Kim Coppola), American actor, nephew of Francis Ford Coppola Talia Shire, American actress, sister of Francis Ford Coppola Sofia Coppola, American film director, daughter of Francis Ford Coppola Twin towns – sister cities Bernalda is twinned with: L'Aquila, Italy Siena, Italy Massa Marittima, Italy Mirabella Eclano, Italy External links • Back to Bernalda by Francis Ford Coppola, T (International Herald Tribune Style Magazine), 8 December 2012 • Coppola talks about Bernalda, The New York Times, 9 March 2009 • Inside the lavish Italian palazzo owned by Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola, Daily Mail, 23 April 2014