Pier Paolo Pasolini found the settings for his The Gospel according to St. Matthew in Southern Italy, where the landscapes evoked the Middle East of 2000 years ago. Galilee was transferred to various rocky locations in Calabria, Lazio, Sicily and Apulia while Jerusalem was recreated amidst the Sassi di Matera, the director’s chosen location for the passion, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Bethlehem found its setting in the historical centre of Barile, a village that stretches over two hilltops, separated by a valley, in the area around Potenza in Basilicata: the four episodes linked to Jesus’s infancy (birth, the adoration of the Magi, the slaughter of the innocents and the escape into Egypt) were set amidst the caves dug out of the rock in the hillside area known as Sheshe. The Sanhedrin meet to pronounce their condemnation in the inner courtyard of the Castle of Lagopesole in Avigliano (PZ).
Shooting in Apulia continued in various castles and landscapes of the Murgia region and in the North wing of the Castello di Gioia del Colle transformed into Herod’s residence and the setting for the dancing Salome’s request for the head of John the Baptist. Castel del Monte (Andria) is the setting for the scene of the expulsion from the Temple by the irritated priests. Near the Castle of Barletta, Pontius Pilate asks the people whether to free Jesus or Barabbas. The Gravina of Ginosa, Manduria and the rock settings of Massafra, in particular, served as Palestine. Pasolini used the small hut and the Jazzo in the Contrada Sabatolla, in Santeramo in Colle, for several scenes (the annunciation and the Sermon on the Mount before Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem).
The 40 days spent by Jesus in the desert were mostly located in the Etna Valley in Sicily, although some of Satan’s temptations are set in the Church of St. Bonaventure in Monterano, a ghost town in the province of Rome, and in Tuscania (VT) with the Church of St. Mary Major and the Basilica of St. Peter (whose unmistakeable rose window can be glimpsed) in the background. The Baptism scene on the River Jordan used a location near the Waterfalls of Fosso Castello in Chia, a hamlet in Soriano nel Cimino (VT). The scene where Jesus heals lepers living in a tower was shot near the Torre delle Caldane inside the Park of Tor Caldara near Anzio (RM).
Meanwhile in Calabria, Pasolini used the desert conformation of the badlands of Cutro (KR) and the nearby beach of the Castella, hamlet in Isola di Capo Rizzuto, with the Aragonese Fortress in the background, as the setting for other scenes on the River Jordan.
Pier Paolo Pasolini found the settings for his The Gospel according to St. Matthew in Southern Italy, where the landscapes evoked the Middle East of 2000 years ago. Galilee was transferred to various rocky locations in Calabria, Lazio, Sicily and Apulia while Jerusalem was recreated amidst the Sassi di Matera, the director’s chosen location for the passion, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Bethlehem found its setting in the historical centre of Barile, a village that stretches over two hilltops, separated by a valley, in the area around Potenza in Basilicata: the four episodes linked to Jesus’s infancy (birth, the adoration of the Magi, the slaughter of the innocents and the escape into Egypt) were set amidst the caves dug out of the rock in the hillside area known as Sheshe. The Sanhedrin meet to pronounce their condemnation in the inner courtyard of the Castle of Lagopesole in Avigliano (PZ).
Shooting in Apulia continued in various castles and landscapes of the Murgia region and in the North wing of the Castello di Gioia del Colle transformed into Herod’s residence and the setting for the dancing Salome’s request for the head of John the Baptist. Castel del Monte (Andria) is the setting for the scene of the expulsion from the Temple by the irritated priests. Near the Castle of Barletta, Pontius Pilate asks the people whether to free Jesus or Barabbas. The Gravina of Ginosa, Manduria and the rock settings of Massafra, in particular, served as Palestine. Pasolini used the small hut and the Jazzo in the Contrada Sabatolla, in Santeramo in Colle, for several scenes (the annunciation and the Sermon on the Mount before Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem).
The 40 days spent by Jesus in the desert were mostly located in the Etna Valley in Sicily, although some of Satan’s temptations are set in the Church of St. Bonaventure in Monterano, a ghost town in the province of Rome, and in Tuscania (VT) with the Church of St. Mary Major and the Basilica of St. Peter (whose unmistakeable rose window can be glimpsed) in the background. The Baptism scene on the River Jordan used a location near the Waterfalls of Fosso Castello in Chia, a hamlet in Soriano nel Cimino (VT). The scene where Jesus heals lepers living in a tower was shot near the Torre delle Caldane inside the Park of Tor Caldara near Anzio (RM).
Meanwhile in Calabria, Pasolini used the desert conformation of the badlands of Cutro (KR) and the nearby beach of the Castella, hamlet in Isola di Capo Rizzuto, with the Aragonese Fortress in the background, as the setting for other scenes on the River Jordan.
Arco Film (Rome), Lux Compagnie Cinématographique de France (Paris)
The life of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of Matthew.
