Matera is one of the oldest cities in the world and was awarded the title of 'European Capital of Culture' in 2019. With its small houses completely carved out of the rock, this small town in Basilicata is still an enchanting destination for those who want to take a dip back into the past and lose themselves in the alleys of this ancient, all-Italian wonder.
The Sassi of Matera: World Heritage Site
This small inland village in Basilicata, now known and appreciated worldwide as a World Heritage Site, was once a crossroads of different populations and cultures, traces of which can still be seen today. In particular, the rock caves on which the town stands bear witness to the presence of man in the area since the Palaeolithic age. After the prehistoric phase, however, it was Christianity that left the deepest imprint on the history of Matera, so much so that in the Middle Ages the rocky landscape began to undergo a profound transformation following the construction of small oriental communities, who emigrated following iconoclasm from territories such as Cappadocia, Armenia, Asia Minor and Syria. These populations managed to find refuge in rock caves, which soon became places of prayer and later places of habitation. It was during this period that some of the most beautiful cave churches were built, and the discovery of precious art and artefacts dates back to the same period.
The Sassi of Matera, a World Heritage Site since 1993, constitute the oldest nucleus of the town and make up the Civita, the ancient institutional, religious and commercial centre of the town. The Sassi are divided into two larger areas: the Caveoso, consisting mainly of caves, and the Barisano, consisting mostly of dwellings built according to more complex construction techniques.
What makes them a real spectacle is the whiteness and warmth emanating from the meeting of the tufa of the stones with the rays of the setting sun and the lights that come on in the evening, transforming this small village into an enormous nativity scene reflected in the moonlight. What makes the Sassi di Matera even more characteristic is the water system of which they are composed; a system designed to collect rainwater and, in the past, consisting of a series of small canals and cisterns that brought water to the houses.
As you walk through the narrow streets of the Sassi, you can hear the voices of the locals and the chimes of the more than 150 underground churches that you can encounter along your route.
The charm of Matera manages to reach and make every corner of culture its own: Matera has in fact been the chosen backdrop for a number of famous films; to name but a few: 'Gli anni ruggenti' by Luigi Zampa, 'Cristo si è fermato ad Eboli' by Francesco Rosi and 'Terra Bruciata' by Fabio Segatori.
The city was also the set of 'Let's Get Married' and 'Wonder Woman', works of cinema of international importance.
From a food and wine point of view, in Matera it will be possible to taste the world-famous Pane di Matera, with its unmistakable aroma and crunchiness, a true gastronomic symbol of the city and not only of the whole of Italy, as well as to sample some of the finest Italian wines: reds such as Primitivo or Aglianico and some excellent whites such as Greco di Matera, Malvasia and Moscato.
Matera, so small but so rich, is an Italian city not to be missed and an ideal destination for lovers of culture and nature. Its charm is now known all over the world and thousands of tourists flock there every year to enjoy some peace and quiet in one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
