I find statues such as this very interesting. Someone has gone to a great deal of trouble and expense to put it in place, yet we walk by and hardly notice it! This statue is to a hero of Matera, Col Mauro Binetti of the Bersaglieri.

The Bersaglieri, singular Bersagliere ("sharpshooter"), are a troop of marksmen in the Italian Army's infantry corps. They were originally created by General Alessandro Ferrero La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Royal Sardinian Army, which later became the Royal Italian Army. They can be recognized by their distinctive wide-brimmed hat decorated with black western capercaillie feathers, which is worn with the dress uniform. The feathers are also applied to their combat helmets.