The stunning city of Matera in Basilicata in Southern Italy is a must-see destination on your Italian travels! The city you see today grew from modest beginnings in a small canyon created over many thousands of years by a small River.
Tourists wishing to visit Matera have a fine selection of vacation villas to rent in Apulia, a neighbouring region of Basilicata where they can easily travel to this popular attraction.
Matera is famous for being one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and is home to its well preserved historical centre called ‘Sassi’.
This ancient area is a series of habitable caves that were carved out of the soft rock by some of Italy’s first human settlers many thousands of years ago.
Tourists wishing to visit Matera have a fine selection of vacation villas to rent in Apulia, a neighbouring region of Basilicata where they can easily travel to this popular attraction.
Matera is famous for being one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and is home to its well preserved historical centre called ‘Sassi’.
This ancient area is a series of habitable caves that were carved out of the soft rock by some of Italy’s first human settlers many thousands of years ago.
These carved caves were hewn into a steep ravine leading down to the River Grauna which functioned perfectly as a cliff-side community for a long time. Unfortunately, in the first half of the 20th century, over population became a problem and people were forced to move to the newer and more hygienic modern town built on the plain above the ravine.
Be sure to walk around this fascinating place and see the beautifully carved Rupestrian style churches that were created here many years ago. Because of the ancient traditional look of Matera to this day, it has been a popular set for films. Mel Gibson’s movie ‘The Passion of the Christ’ was partly filmed here!
Be sure to walk around this fascinating place and see the beautifully carved Rupestrian style churches that were created here many years ago. Because of the ancient traditional look of Matera to this day, it has been a popular set for films. Mel Gibson’s movie ‘The Passion of the Christ’ was partly filmed here!
Aside from ‘Sassi di Matera’, tourists can enjoy tasting all the delicious local dishes and sipping the fine wines of the area. Walk around the many stall and small craft shops in Matera that sell delicate ornaments, toys and paintings inspired by the local area.
As the sun sets some evening, a stroll around the Tramontano castle would be a truly magical experience. This 16th century fortress has three of its original twelve towers still standing and would make for a superb photograph in the fading light.
Matera would be an excellent place to visit on your next holiday to Italy so why not make your plans to visit?
It’s guaranteed to enrich your tourist experience and help make your next trip a holiday of a lifetime!
As the sun sets some evening, a stroll around the Tramontano castle would be a truly magical experience. This 16th century fortress has three of its original twelve towers still standing and would make for a superb photograph in the fading light.
Matera would be an excellent place to visit on your next holiday to Italy so why not make your plans to visit?
It’s guaranteed to enrich your tourist experience and help make your next trip a holiday of a lifetime!
Photo credits
picture 1: Idéfix / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Francorov / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Mac9 / CC BY 2.0
picture 1: Idéfix / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Francorov / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Mac9 / CC BY 2.0
