Observer: Matera Was Once Considered the ‘Shame of Italy.’ Now It’s a Hub for Cave-Hopping Jet-Setters.
A view of the Sassi di Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Paul Jebara It’s hard to believe that a little more than 50 years ago, Matera was the “shame of Italy,” its cave-dwelling ...
Matera Was Once Considered the ‘Shame of Italy.’ Now It’s a Hub for Cave-Hopping Jet-Setters.
Matera (Italian pronunciation: [maˈtɛːra], locally [maˈteːra] ⓘ; Materano: Matàrë [maˈtæːrə]) is a city and the capital of the Province of Matera in the region of Basilicata, in Southern Italy.
Matera is a city with a long and fascinating history. A complex of cave dwellings, stone buildings, and churches sit on the rolling hillsides, creating one of the most photogenic cities in Italy. Matera has recently been featured in numerous films, increasing its popularity.
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What is special about Matera? The city is made up of two large sassi (the stones) – Barisano and Caveoso, which were dug into to create caves that house homes, hotels, restaurants, shops, cafes, art galleries, and museums.
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Matera is located in the southern part of Italy, specifically in the Basilicata region. The city is situated on the edge of the Gravina di Matera Canyon, overlooking a breathtaking panorama. To visualize its layout, imagine the city divided into four main areas: Sasso Barisano, Sasso Caveoso, Civita, and Piano.
Matera’s real claim to fame, though, and the reason it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the extensive series of cave dwellings ("i sassi") southeast of town, first inhabited by Benedictine and Basilian monks.