Matera is an historical Italian town located in the south of Italy, more specifically in the Basilicata region. This stunning town is part of the Unesco world heritage and it’s definitely worth a visit.
Matera’s attractions
The Italian town of Matera is particularly known for its sassi, cave dwellings, which have been carved out of the rock for thousands of years. These caves were once home to the city’s poorest residents.
So, tourists can explore the winding alleyways and see how people used to live in these ancient caves.
One curiosity about sassi di Matera is that they were used as a location for many movies, such as The Passion of the Christ, Ben-Hur, Wonder woman and Mary Magdalene.
For a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the town of Matera, visitors can check out the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Domenico Ridola. This museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts from the prehistoric era to the Middle Ages, including pottery, jewelry, and sculptures. The museum also has a section dedicated to the Sassi, which provides insight into the lives of the people who used to live there.
Another must-see attraction is the Palombaro Lungo, an underground cistern that was used to collect rainwater for the city. This impressive feat of engineering is over 30 meters deep and can hold up to 5,000 cubic meters of water. The cistern has been completely restored and is now open to visitors.
In Matera there are some beautiful churches as well. One of the oldest is the Chiesa di San Pietro Caveoso, which dates back to the 11th century. The church is located in the Sassi and has a beautiful stone façade. Another church worth visiting is the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista, which is located on top of a hill and offers stunning panoramic views of the city.
If this isn’t enough to convice you to visit the town of Matera, then you should know that Matera is also known for its cuisine, which uses many natural ingredients. Two of the most known dishes is peperoni cruschi, dried red peppers that are fried and used as a seasoning, and pane di Matera – Matera’s bread – a type of bread made of durum wheat.
In addition to its food, you should also know that the town of Matera can be a great base to explore the surrounding area. Some nearby attractions are the ancient city of Metaponto, and the picturesque towns of Bernalda, Altamura, and Ginosa.
What about you? Have you already been to Matera? What did you think about it?
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Credits
Original image by Jack78
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