Discover Matera: Italy's Ancient City of Stone and Cultural Heritage
Beliza•Oct 29, 2024
Have you ever heard of Matera in Italy? It’s the first city of the Basilicata region in the south, sometimes called Lucania. Among the Italian tourist destinations, Matera is one of the most amazing, because it treasures incredible constructions excavated in limestone centuries ago. In Matera, Italy, you can stay and discover the background of the city of stone, inhabited at least since the Paleolithic and Neolithic. Get to know one of the oldest cities in the world, where nature, history, and culture come together.
Sassi di Matera: A Journey Through Time
If you are interested in the history of Matera, Italy, you must also know the history of the Sassi. This is the name of the two main districts of the historical center of Matera: the “Civita” and the “Piano”. The first definition of Sasso as an inhabited district dates back to a document of 1204. But, many generations and cultures have passed on each other over the years. Don’t miss this architectural group that bears witness to key moments in the history of humanity.
Top Attractions in Matera, Italy
Grotta di Vico Solitario House
In the heart of Matera, Italy, lies a unique tourist attraction that will take you back in time: the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario. This restored cave will give you a glimpse into the lifestyle of its former inhabitants up until the 1950’s. Be sure to include it in your itinerary and you will discover an impressive and unique subway world.
Church of Santa Maria de Idris
Enjoy a splendid view of the city from the top of the rocky cliff called Monterrone, in the Sasso Caveoso. The Church of Santa Maria de Idris dates between the 14th and 15th centuries and is made of a part carved into the rock and another built. The church interior is different from the original structure due to the ongoing restorations over the centuries. Take your time to enjoy all the historical and artistic details hidden in this medieval religious place.
Parco della Murgia Materana
This is a historical treasure that will leave you amazed and a true paradise for nature lovers. You can enjoy impressive views along the routes on the limestone rocks. Also, animal lovers can observe species of birds and mammals that inhabit the area. The Murgia Park is a place where the wild beauty of nature blends with the millenary history of Matera.
Palazzo Lanfranchi and Museo Nazionale d’Arte Medievale e Moderna
Inside Palazzo Lanfranchi is the National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata, a prestigious building built between 1668 and 1672. It is divided into three sections: Sacred Art, Collecting, and Contemporary Art. Enjoy paintings on canvas and wood, sculptures, coming from churches in the territory.
Crypt of the Peccato Originale
It was the place of worship of a Benedictine cave monastery of the Lombard period. It is decorated with a cycle of works from the 8th and 9th centuries, painted by the artist known as the Painter of the Flowers of Matera. The back wall is adorned with paintings depicting episodes of Creation and Original Sin. Don’t miss the opportunity to see works unique in their style.
Matera: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1993, UNESCO declared the cultural landscape of Sassi on the World Heritage List, making it the first inscribed site in southern Italy. Sassi di Matera shows an extraordinary urban ecosystem that connects cave life from the prehistoric past to modern times. In 1950 a draft law for its recovery and removal began, because the living conditions there were serious. Finally, the removal of the inhabitants started in 1952. It was painful for many tenants even though the new neighborhoods were more comfortable. Interestingly, the novel “Christ Stopped at Eboli” by Carlo Levi, narrates the poor hygienic situations in which the Sassi found themselves, with high infant mortality, overcrowding, and risk of epidemics.
Sassi di Matera’s Cultural Revival: From European Capital of Culture to Film Set
As part of the project “Matera, European Capital of Culture 2019”, the foundation “Matera-Basilicata 2019” was created on September 3, 2014. It was a cultural strategy for the candidacy of Matera to the European Capital of Culture. The project has many interesting results. For example, 82% of the productions are original, 193 global artists participated, and 400 spaces were made available for cultural use and enjoyment in Matera and its region (Basilicata). The cinema industry has taken advantage of the extraordinary conditions that the city has reached. As a result, we have seen Matera on the big screen in films such as The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964), The Passion of the Christ (2002) and Ben-Hur (2016).
Matera: The Hidden Gem of Southern Italy
If you’re a museum lover, in the new European Capital of Culture 2019 you can enjoy archaeological finds and displays of modern and contemporary art. Go to Domenico Ridola National Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Basilicata, the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture, the Museum of Farmers’ Life, and the cultural centers Casa di Ortega, Casa Noha, and Casa Cava. One of the highlights of the year in Matera takes place during the celebration of the Feast of the Madonna della Bruna, the patron saint of the city. Residents and artists compete to decorate the cart where they will place the virgin. Every July 2, the cart moves through the streets protected by horsemen to the Cathedral Square. There, the crowd waits for it and tries to tear off a piece to serve as a lucky charm.
Matera vs. Cappadocia
Over thousands of years, erosion has created unique geological formations around the world. In the valleys of Cappadocia, millenary civilizations left their mark and built cities carved into the rocks. As in Matera, various cultures that settled in Cappadocia over the centuries took advantage of the soft rock material to make their homes and places of worship. Matera and Cappadocia are exceptional examples of the utilization of natural resources over time. Both are testimonies of traditional human settlement and a representation of culture from its origins to modernity.
Practical Tips For Exploring Matera
The best time to visit Matera, Italy, is in the spring, especially during Easter week. There it’s possible to see various shows like the Passion of Christ performance. You can access the rock churches of Matera all year round, with varying hours. Most are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the entrance fee is usually 2 to 4 euros. We recommend starting your tour at the Parco della Murgia Materana, which can be easily reached by car or on foot from the city center. If you choose to visit these cultural and historical sites responsibly, you should respect the environment and local culture. Choose guided tours and support local artisan businesses.
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