Weekend in Matera. Matera, Italy: the ancient cave city of Matera, Italy attractions detailed description
When traveling by car from the Adriatic coast, take the Bologna - Taranto motorway until you reach the Bari North exit. Continue along the SS 99 in the direction of Altamura - Matera.
From the Tyrrhenian coast there is a convenient route along the Salerno - Reggio - Calabria highway, exiting the highway to Sicinano degli Alburni. Next you need to take the SS 407 road towards the city of Potenza, and then to Metaponto up to the signs for Matera.
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Sassi di Matera
Sassi di Matera is the historical district of the city of Matera. It is considered one of the first settlements in Italy and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It grew on one of the slopes of the La Gravina gorge, formed by a river, of which now only a small stream remains. Elegant dwellings carved into the tufa limestone alternate with underground caves and labyrinths to create one stunning landscape.
In 1950, the Italian government moved the majority of the population of Sassi di Matera to the "new" Matera. But to this day the rock city is inhabited. Now Sassi is perhaps the only place in the world where people live in the houses of their ancestors, who inhabited the area about 9 thousand years ago.
The Sassi region is divided into two parts: the first to appear was Sassi Caveoso and the later Sassi Barisano. In Sassi you can see countless churches, each with its own distinctive features: from the grandeur of the Church of San Pietro Barisano, which often hosts jazz concerts, to the rich iconography of Santa Lucia alle Malve. Convicinio di Sant'Antonio is a complex of cave churches, entered through an elegant portal where four churches, each in its own style, open onto a courtyard.
The Monterrone rock outcrop is clearly visible from many points. Inside the rock are the churches of Santa Maria de Idris and San Giovanni, connected by a passage and forming a single complex.
The Church of Santa Maria de Armeniz is easily accessible from the historical part of Matera. The façade of the church is lined with stone masonry and decorated with pointed arches. These days, the church hosts art exhibitions.
The Church of Santa Barbara, with its stunning frescoes and iconostasis, is a true gem of Sassi cave art.
It is definitely worth visiting the cave complex of the churches of Madonna delle Virtu and San Nicola dei Graci. Every summer, the complex becomes the site for an international sculpture exhibition organized by the La Scaletta association.
The entrance ticket to 5 cave churches is 6 EUR, to three churches - 5 EUR, to one church - 2.50 EUR. Visits to the churches of Santa Maria de Armeniz and Santa Barbara are only possible upon prior request. Prices on the page are as of November 2018.
National Museum of Domenico Ridola
You can learn about the history of the city by visiting the Domenico Ridola National Museum, founded in 1911. Domenico Ridola was a doctor and senator who loved antiquity. By the end of the 19th century, he carried out a series of excavations, during which he discovered settlements from the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. Based on his research, he collected a collection of archaeological artifacts, which has since been replenished and updated by museum staff. The museum is open to visitors daily, from 14:00 to 20:00; The entrance ticket costs 2.50 EUR.
Lanfranchi Palace
The Lanfranchi Palace houses the collection of the Basilicata Museum of Modern Art, as well as an impressive collection of works by Carlo Levi and numerous paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries by artists of the Neapolitan school. The museum is open daily from 09:00 to 19:00, December 24 and 31 - until 13:00; entrance ticket cost is 3 EUR.
In the southern part of Italy, in a province called Basilicata, there is a small beautiful and ancient city that few people know about. Matera has existed in the canyon of the Gravina River since prehistoric times (from Neolithic times). Due to the unique historical part of the city called "Sassi", Matera is also sometimes called the "Underground City".
It has been proven that people lived here as early as 9,000 years ago, but the official history of the city begins with the Romans, namely in the third century BC. The original name of the Roman village was Mateola. Historians believe that the name was probably given in honor of the Roman consul Lucius Caecilius Metellus.
In 664 AD, after the Lombards conquered the province of Matera, the city had many owners.
In the 9th and 10th centuries, Matera was constantly fought over by the Byzantine and German emperors, until William the Iron Hand began to rule it. At the beginning of the 17th century, the city's importance grew so much that it became the capital of the entire Basilicata region. Matera held this “position” until 1806, when the capital was moved to Potenza.
Matera also played an important role during World War II, when it became the first Italian city to actively fight against the Wehrmacht.
Probably the most interesting part of the city is its historical center - the old part of the city, which is called "Sassi di Matera".
Sassi (meaning "stones") still has prehistoric houses built by cavemen (troglodytes) who inhabited the region thousands of years ago. The village of Sassi is very similar to the dwellings in the village of Mellieha in northern Malta.
Since archaeological evidence shows that the first settlements of primitive people existed here as early as 7000 BC, the "Sassi di Matera" is considered one of the first settlements in modern Italy.
These Sassi dwellings were painstakingly carved out of the limestone rocks. There were so many underground houses in some parts of this area that the streets were literally built on the “roofs” of the houses.
Due to a number of changes in government policy and due to a malaria epidemic threatening it in the 1950s, the Italian government decided to move the residents of Sassi to a newly built part of the city.
However, many people refused to move, so today Matera is the only place in the world where people can boast that they still live in the houses of their ancestors, in which they lived 9,000 years ago.
The Gravina River divides the city, built on rocks above ancient cave dwellings, into two parts. This feature led to the fact that water was very difficult to access for its inhabitants. This is why people started making huge tanks (known as "cisterns").
One of the largest water reservoirs is located under Piazza Vittorio Veneto. The height of its walls is as much as 15 meters and there are even boat tours inside it. As the population in Matera began to increase, many of the old "cisterns" were eventually converted into residential buildings.
Church of San Francesco d'Assisi.
Cave houses are not the only attraction in Matera. You can also find some very beautiful churches in this city. For example, the central cathedral of Matera, which is called Santa Maria Della Bruna, was built in 1389 and topped with a 52-meter bell tower.
The historic center of Matera still retains its original charm. Because of this, many directors choose this city as an ideal location for filming ancient Jerusalem.
Many films based on biblical subjects were filmed here, such as “The Gospel of Matthew” directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini (1964), or “The Passion of the Christ” by Mel Gibson (2004). Today, Matera is a thriving town with many businesses, taverns and hotels, and its beauty literally captivates thousands of visitors every year.
It is also located in Italy. She is truly impressive!
Matera, the strangest Italian city December 13th, 2013
This post about Matera is the last in a series about our trip to the Italian region in March 2013. In fact, Matera is not in Puglia, but in the neighboring region of Basilicata. We got here thanks to the fact that the last third day of the competition was held in this unusual city. And this place is truly unlike anything else.
It seems that the city was founded by the Romans, but it began to develop in the early Middle Ages, when coastal residents began to flee Saracen raids in the interior of the country. In addition, many Greek monks fled here during the era of iconoclasm.
The area where Matera was founded is a deep gorge, even a canyon, at the bottom of which there is a faint trickle, which only turns into a river in the spring.
The slopes of this canyon (“gravina” in Italian) are limestone. And this limestone is full of caves. People began to live in caves; the caves were deepened, expanded, and then built with houses. Gradually, a semi-underground labyrinth city like nothing else emerged. Matera also developed beyond this slope; a New City was built with squares and wide streets. And this area of the city, called Sassi (which means stones in Italian), gradually turned into one of the worst slums in all of Italy. By the beginning of the 50s, the authorities decided to clean up Sassi, and began to systematically resettle (expel) residents from here. Gradually the old city became empty. It was washed, cleaned, and began to be turned into a tourist town. However, for some reason, mass tourists have not yet come here, although I saw a couple of buses of Chinese with cameras. And this is great, because the streets of this strange town are not yet crowded with tourists. About half of the streets of Matera are not even streets - they are stairs:
Almost all the photos from this post were taken by my wife Sasha, who was walking around the city while I was taking part in the competition. Looking at these photographs now, I realize that I saw this city completely differently. The video below shows how I saw the city, only for me it was all a little slower :)
This video was filmed using a head camera by Norwegian elite athlete Øystein Kvaal Østerbø. For me, Matera remains in my memory as a labyrinth of narrow stairs and passages. But in Sasha’s photographs it still looks more like an ordinary human city. So, more photos.
Here I am running around the city:
And here is the European champion and World Sprint Championship medalist Jonas Leandersson from Sweden.
Here are just views of the city:
If you look from the outside, it seems that this is just some kind of incomprehensible layering of houses on top of each other at different levels. But in fact, these slopes, “overgrown” with ancient houses, open up into streets and staircases.
Not all courtyards in the city can be accessed; some of them are closed with elegant doors like this:
The city has a baroque cathedral squeezed into a tiny square.
Here is another cathedral:
That edge of the city that breaks into a canyon looks completely unreal - the scenery for a gloomy “fantasy”. Especially considering that the sun hid and it became completely cold, it was about +6 that day.
A real “cave” city has been preserved here. True, now no one lives in it anymore.
Some areas of the Sassi are still abandoned:
Nobody lives here either.
We didn't have enough time to walk around the New Town.
Notice how empty the city is. It's Sunday, about two o'clock in the afternoon.
And this is what happened in the city center at 11.
There is a small market in the city center. Italian lords walk along the streets. There are a lot of older men, and almost no women at all. Men walk in pairs and groups, and they are all dressed in suits, coats, and always have a tie and a hat. They walk around smelling perfume. A very strange picture for us. Everyone’s faces are completely worker-peasant, but at the same time their clothes, posture and the importance with which they walk around are very aristocratic.
That's all about the trip to Italy in March 2013! Below is a table of contents of previous episodes.
The Italian city of Matera is different from most other places in the country: it is very ancient, as if it has its own soul, almost entirely consisting of rocks and caves. Some call it a "stone hive." The total area of the city is 387 km2.
Translated from Italian, its name means “my land”; the earlier ancient name of the city sounded like “Mateola”. Other versions of the origin of the city's name: mata, meteoron, matterah, which mean, respectively, “pile of stones”, “starry sky” and “prison”.
In 2019, Matera, whose rocks were once inhabited only by hunters, monks and gatherers, will receive the honorary title of European Capital of Culture. Most of the city's attractions are temples, churches and cathedrals, so religious people and connoisseurs of ancient architecture will like it here.
Matera also has interesting museums of medieval and modern art, and the nature, as throughout Italy, is very bright and picturesque.
On the territory of Matera there is a total of approximately 130 temples, including this one - a magnificent example of Middle Ages architecture. The cathedral is interesting because the outside is made in the Romanesque style, and inside you can find elements of the Gothic style.
It is located in Piazza San Rocco, near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. You can go inside from the side. You can look at this building for a very long time: the richness of the Romanesque style, various sculptures, and figured capitals will delight you. Each capital is different; representatives of the animal world, birds, and plant ornaments are carved on them. The interior decoration is modest, but the temple has an incredibly attractive atmosphere of calm and holiness. It is because of her, and not because of the beautiful interior, that there is a desire to stay inside longer.
Cave churches and monasteries
Churches and temples in caves appeared thanks to nomadic monks who brought traditional elements of architecture from Syria, Anatolia and Antioch to Matera. True religious fans can visit all the cave churches, but one or two are enough to get an impression of what it is like.
Main cave churches of Matera:
- Santa Lucia (pictured above).
- Madonna de Idris and San Giovanni in Monterrone.
- Convicinio di Sant'Antonio.
- San Pietro Barisano.
- Santa Maria de Armenis.
By the way, many residents of Mother to this day live in caves carved directly into the rocks.
House museums
Another type of attraction is house-museums, which reveal the everyday life of ordinary residents of Matera. The excursions are complemented by an audio guide, which is very convenient. One of these houses is called.
All houses are cramped, so the arrangement is extremely ascetic: a bed, a table, and sometimes chairs. But not for everyone - the children ate food without chairs. The bed is located high above the floor, more than a meter, since it is warmer on top. Hay and firewood were stored under it.
To preserve heat, the location of the houses in the grotto is thought out as much as possible: in summer the sun does not heat the room too much, in winter, on the contrary, the light penetrates deeper. The appearance of electricity in this city occurred only in the 30s of the 20th century.
Location: Vicinato di Vico Solitario - 1.
Other name - Church of Purification. It is easy to distinguish it by its slightly convex, rounded façade. The church portal can be a little scary: it depicts many skulls of different shapes and sizes. But, if you overcome your fear and take a closer look, you will notice a certain hierarchy: the upper skulls wear different crowns, the lower ones are completely identical. Everyone will decide for themselves what such an image means, the equality of all people after death or something else. The interior decoration of the Church is magnificent and elaborate.
Location: Via Domenico Ridola.
It was built on the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, which was underground. Architects Vito Valentino and Tommaso Pennetta managed to create a very elegant example of the Baroque style. The place is sacred since Francis of Assisi took refuge here in 1218.
A must visit for all believers and history buffs. The cathedral gradually moved towards the form in which tourists see it now, and reached it only around 1700. The undoubted decoration of the church is the polyptych by Lazzaro Bastiani, spectacular and skillfully executed.
Location: Piazza S. Francesco.
For just 2.5 euros, visitors get the opportunity to get to know the long history of amazing Matera closer.
Geographically, the museum is located in the monastery of St. Clare, the exhibition consists of many results of archaeological excavations, objects from the life of the ancient inhabitants of Matera. The museum is named after Senator Ridol, who presented the country with this extensive collection of exhibits. History buffs will be delighted.
Location: Via Domenico Ridola - 24.
This 23rd century temple is located among the rocks of the Sasso Caveoso quarter, offering excellent views of the Sassi. The interior decoration is not luxurious, the church was created to ask Our Lady of Idris for rainfall.
Location: Via Madonna dell'Idris.
A great example of how you can turn any place into a museum. It will appeal to those who like to crawl underground in unusual places and to everyone who wants to feel cool on a hot day.
Underground Matera is no less interesting than above it: many canals and tanks are connected into a huge water collection system. All of this was created by hand. The tour will take no more than half an hour, will be very informative, and the guide will be knowledgeable about the history of this place. An unforgettable experience is guaranteed for both children and adults.
Location: Ipogei, Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
This park is one of those places in which Matera still looks like a piece of Italy, green and colorful. This place has a sense of wild nature, an unforgettable view of the rocks, temples and caves of Matera, and the bluest sky stretches overhead.
Even getting to the place will be interesting: you can get to this park by crossing a rope bridge over the river. Tired of museums and excursions, you just need to walk here, not think about anything and, of course, take pictures.
These are caves with frescoes on the theme of original sin. The day of visiting this place should be planned in advance, reserved and equipped with suitable comfortable shoes. Finding the place is not entirely easy, so it’s worth asking the locals how to get there or taking a navigator with you.
Photography, especially with flash, is strictly prohibited here. The frescoes are unique and perfectly preserved; this attraction is definitely worth a visit. There is an audio guide in English.
This modern sculpture park is made for photographs. Strange figures made of metal and other brutal materials are located against a background of rocks and rare trees. The place is not for everyone, but it’s nice to even just sit and dine in the fresh air.
After numerous walks, it will be nice to visit the spa center and enjoy complete relaxation. The most popular service here is stone massage for lovers, a romantic way to spend an evening of a busy day.
Location: Piazza Duomo - 13.
The small olive oil museum is easy to miss, but the place is quite interesting. You can see and touch a real oil press, listen to a good tour in English or Italian, learn something new about the history of this product and, of course, buy souvenirs. The people who created this museum really love what they do.
Location: Vico I Casalnuovo - 3.
Museo Nazionale d'Arte Medievale e Moderna della Basilicata
One can argue about the success of the idea of combining both modern and medieval art in one place. But the exhibitions in this museum are amazing, and completely inexpensive. The museum is very large, there are many artifacts and interesting works. Many people come here specifically to see the Carlo Levi’s exhibition.
Location: Piazzetta Giovanni Pascoli - 1.
The Museum of Contemporary Sculpture stands out among other museums: the exhibition is presented not against the traditional backdrop of boring, dusty white walls, but in a cave. The unique combination of modern art and unique natural history captivates. The work of sculptors from all over the world is on display, the welcome is welcoming, and there is also an excellent bookshop. This memorable place is a must-visit for all art and sculpture lovers.
Location: Via S. Giacomo.
Of all the variety of restaurants in Matera, this one stands out: it is located in a cave. The cuisine here is not high-end, rather fast food: draft beer, hamburgers, squid, french fries. But what makes an impression is the atmosphere, in which everyone will feel a little primitive. Judging by the reviews, the choice of food and drinks, their taste and service here are quite decent.
Location: Via Casalnuovo - 39.
The Italian city of Matera is the oldest settlement in the southern part of the country. It is located in the Basilicata region. Matera is considered the best-preserved example of an ancient cave settlement. From the point of view of the degree of value for world culture and science, this city can be given a well-deserved first place among similar settlements in the entire Mediterranean. A special feature of the city of Matera is that the first local settlements date back to the Paleolithic period.
In 1993, the Italian city of Matera was included in the UNESCO list.
On a tour of the ancient city, you can see fantastic cave houses, carved right into the rock and called “sassi” (“stones”) in Italian. According to scientists, the age of the most ancient Sassi is about seven thousand years.
There are also “younger” buildings here, the time of construction of which is eloquently evidenced by churches built presumably in the 6th century. The ceilings and walls of some churches in this so-called “cave” city of Matera are decorated with frescoes from the 11th and 12th centuries, which have been perfectly preserved to this day.
The caves, carved out of soft limestone and home to ancient settlements, are now widely known among modern people. And this was greatly facilitated by the turbulent cinematic history of this region of Italy. The city of Matera, with its colorful atmosphere and unique architecture, can be seen in a huge number of Hollywood films.
The Holy Christian Land, medieval Spain, and pre-war Sicily were filmed here. And everywhere the streets of Matera served as a natural and incredibly believable backdrop for the unfolding action. The most famous paintings, the success of which was ensured, among other things, thanks to such decorations, are “The Gospel of Matthew”, “King David”, “The Passion of the Christ” and others.
After the release of the above-mentioned films, Matera, completely unexpectedly for everyone, acquired a new role for itself: this city became very popular among tourists. In terms of visitor numbers, it rivals Italian cities such as Parma, Lucca, Bari and Verona.
Tourists are attracted here, first of all, by the unique beauty and unusualness of the landscape. Similar structures can only be seen in Crimea (Ukraine), Cappadocia (Turkey), as well as in some regions of China, Georgia and India. However, in no other place will tourists have the opportunity to see caves in which such wonderful frescoes are perfectly preserved as in the cave city of Matera.
In addition, the southern Italian city of Matera has many other attractions, photographs of which are a must-have for every tourist visiting the province of Basilicata in their collection. By the way, the best photos of Italy can be seen on the travel website tourister.ru. The most varied and interesting photographs of Italy are presented there, after admiring which you will be overcome with a great desire to visit this magnificent country.
Other attractions of Matera include the Cathedral Square, the Ridol Museum, the excellent Cathedral and several others. Having visited Italy on an excursion to Matera, a tourist should also not miss the opportunity to visit local restaurants and taste amazing local cuisine. In the summer, you can visit the annual St. Mary's Festival, which includes traditional fun fairs, various shows, concert programs and an incredible final fireworks display.
Book a hotel in Matera
To explore the sights of Matera, in particular the cave city of Matera, you will need to stay somewhere. Below are Matera hotels especially for you, divided into three categories: popular hotels, luxury hotels and cheap hotels. Here you can book a room at the Matera hotel in advance according to your wishes and financial capabilities. For your convenience, here is information about the location of the hotels relative to the city center, as well as the number of stars.
Simply select the hotel you like by clicking on the “View Hotel” button. Next you will find yourself on a page where you can book a hotel. There you can also find more detailed information about it, reviews, ratings, photographs, location on the map, features and, of course, prices.
If you want to look at other hotels, you can simply select the city of Matera from above, and you will see a list of all Matera hotels available for booking.
