Matera is one of our favorite cities of Italy yet. It is an amazing city unlike anywhere else in the world. This beautiful city of stone dates back to the Paleolithic era approximately 25,000 years ago. It is thought to be one of the first settlements of Europe.
The hilly natural terrain and stone caves lent themselves to shelter. Over time, many houses were expanded around caves and even churches were built out of the caves. Today, many restaurants and hotels are built out of the original caves. We enjoyed the one we stayed at, Hotel Basiliana in San Pietro. It was quite a cobblestone walk from the parking area in the square to the hotel, but worth it for the amazing location (yet all the amenities you'd need) within the caves.
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| A church built out of the caves |
There are two Sassi (stone) districts, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, separated by a ravine called the Gravina of Matera. It is possible to explore them all on foot, although there are many steps.
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| Our hotel is just below, overlooking the ravine |
The city became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993, which revitalized the area with tourism. Before then, the area was largely abandoned after the government forcefully relocated the inhabitants because of extreme poverty and unsanitary living conditions during the 1950's.
Usually a large family, sometimes 6 or more people, would live in a small one-room living space. There was no running water, only a cistern that collected rain water. There was no electricity. Usually there was one straw stuffed bed and some of the children would sleep in dresser drawers. There was one small table for the family and a loom.
The family donkey or mule would also be kept inside the family quarters in a tiny stall to provide extra warmth for the family as well as protection of the animal.
Because of its old world look, Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of Christ was filmed in Matera.
Matera is one of our favorite cities of Italy yet. It is an amazing city unlike anywhere else in the world. This beautiful city of stone dates back to the Paleolithic era approximately 25,000 years ago. It is thought to be one of the first settlements of Europe.
There are two Sassi (stone) districts, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, separated by a ravine called the Gravina of Matera. It is possible to explore them all on foot, although there are many steps.
Usually a large family, sometimes 6 or more people, would live in a small one-room living space. There was no running water, only a cistern that collected rain water. There was no electricity. Usually there was one straw stuffed bed and some of the children would sleep in dresser drawers. There was one small table for the family and a loom.
The family donkey or mule would also be kept inside the family quarters in a tiny stall to provide extra warmth for the family as well as protection of the animal.
