Discover Matera: Italy’s Enchanting City of Stones and Ancient Wonders

Matera: Located in the middle of Basilicata – an area in the southern part of Italy – Matera is a breathtaking city. Matera has always been famous for its cave houses and stunning scenery; thus, it is a point of interest that combines history, art, and stunning scenery. Travel through the sights and sounds of Matera with this blog article which seeks to unveil more of it; from its culture to artefacts, food, and what visitors are likely to discover.

A Brief History of Matera

As for history, Matera has been inhabited for millennia which makes it one of the oldest cities in the world. Sassi di Matera is a group of homes carved out of caves in the city of Matera; Sassi di Matera comprises the Sasso Caveoso and the Sasso Barisano area. These early man caverns were sculpted from the side of the limestone mountains and were possibly homeowners for numerous energetic individuals.

In the early twentieth century, Matera was rather impoverished and large numbers of its cave houses left without proper care. But in the recent past, the city has made a dramatic change. Today the city of Matera is possibly most famous for the restoration works that have been done in the Sassi which made them alive and active cultural area.

Architectural Wonders

When walking around Matera, one has the sensation that he or she is in medio aevo. Winding streets and narrow lanes are filled with historic buildings made from stone and many of them have been converted into attractive hotels, restaurants, and art galleries. But the most outstanding architectural features are the cave churches with shiny painted murals that portray the New Testament scenes.

Among the places, that are firmly worth the visit, is Cattedrale di Matera, which is a Romanesque cathedral situated on the hill. Its bell tower has a terrace from which one has breathtaking views of the Sassi and of the country. Also, such a sight as the Chiesa di San Pietro Caveoso has to be mentioned, which is very attractive due to the rather complex carving, and a rather calm

The Enchanting Landscape

Several people do not know that aside from the cultural side of Matera, the place is also endowed with very beautiful scenery. Its setting is potentially dangerous as the city is located in a context of cliffs and valleys that give the aspect of a spectacular shipwreck. The Parco della Murgia Materana just outside the city is a natural reserve comprising trekking paths, early Christian-painted caves and rock churches, and geological formations.

Other than the guided tour the visitor is free to move around the park on their own and enjoy the park’s attractions. The outlook of the Sassi when viewed from the cliffs by the side of the ravines is breathtaking, especially with the reds of the rising and setting sun highlighting the stone’s reds.

Culinary Delights

It would be incomplete to visit Matera without tasting meals from the region’s speciality. Basilicata is one of those places in Italy where one can taste truly authentic Italian food, many of the recipes of which will be prepared following the old traditions.

One among the local specialities that attract a large number of tourists to the area, the simplest and perhaps the most outstanding of them is pane di Matera, a type of traditional bread made from a particular type of wheat and water in the local region, which is famous for its crispiness both outside and inside when baked and crunchy when toasted, especially when accompanied with local cheese and cured meats.

There is another dish that is surely worth a try – cicoria, a wild green that is most commonly cooked with garlic and olive oil. For culinary lovers and sweet lovers, there are different local foods such as pepperoni crusher, which is a crispy fried pepper and biscotti di Matera which is a traditional cookie of the region.

Cultural Experiences

Matera is a city that lives in celebrations and several festivals and events are held in the city all year round. Among the most important ones, is the Festa della Bruna, taking place on July 2nd, in honour of the patron of the city. The occasion involves a float parade, night fireworks and general entertainment that fans out the spirit of the society. The festival is colourful and involves a float parade, and night fireworks and has a high level of community mobilization. Also, Matera has become more famous as one of the filming locations for such movies as ‘The Passion of the Christ’ and ‘No Time to Die’. So, fans of cinema can extend the list of attractions very interesting for them.

Cultural Significance

Matera is not only a city with stunning natural views and historical buildings; it is a unique example of an adaptation of people. The buildings’ architecture and the presence of cave houses in the Sassi di Matera area testify to the dwellers’ existence throughout the ages. These were purely for protection initially but as time passed they advanced towards becoming a part of organized living with facilities such as churches, shops, etc.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

It was eligible for World Heritage listing in 1993, based on its historical and cultural values. Efforts towards the protection and rehabilitation of the city have received global acclaim and the city presently sets the best practice on how heritage sites may be revitalized but not compromised. Their integration into one another provides quite an insight into the aspect of the timelessness of human settlements within the city.

The title of European Capital of Culture 2019

In 2019 Matera was included in the list of European Capital of Culture which again underscored its potential for culture and art. The title was accompanied by a sequence of events, open exhibitions, and performances that presented the local emerging talents and sought for European artists to work with. Also, this event helped Matera to strengthen its position as one of the most important cultural centres in Italy.

Practical Travel Tips

Getting There

Matera can be reached either by car, bus or train. The closest international airport is Bari Karol Wojtyła is approximately 60 kilometres and the exit from the airport takes around an hour. There are car rentals available at the airport or one can take a train to Matera. The city is also served by a regular network of bus services from most of the other Italian cities in the southern part of Italy.

Where to Stay

In Matera, visitors will find some accommodation facilities from luxury hotels, to beautiful bed and breakfasts. It might also be interesting to spend a night or several nights in one of the cave hotels – this will enable the guests of the Sassi to feel the peculiar spirit of the place. They are Le Grotte della Civita, Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, and Caveoso Hotel.

Best Time to Visit

As to the climate, the most suitable weather for visiting is in Spring, from April to June and in Autumn, from September to October. The summer months are mainly extremely hot with averages reaching 30°C (86 °F) and more while the winter season is relatively cold with frequent rain. The advantages of going to the above places during the shoulder seasons mean that the traveller can enjoy the attractions without having to bump into large numbers of tourists as is common in the high seasons.

Unique Attractions

Vico Solitario House or House of Grotta

Indeed, one of the most effective ways to learn more about the pre-and postmodern lifestyle of Matera people is to visit the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario. Out of all the caves, this one has been left intact to give students the feeling of how the houses of the Sassi looked like. The visitors are welcome to visit the rooms where genuine furniture from that period as well as tools of the trade are displayed.

Palombaro Lungo

Palombaro Lungo is one of the several examples of such structures and is a large underground water cistern dug into the rock beneath the city. This large grotto was built in the 19th century to serve as a reservoir for the collected rainwater. Historical tours allow an understanding of its history and the architectural brilliance that the city of Matera possessed in the past.

The Rock Churches

Of course, spread throughout the surrounding area, the rock churches of Matera are a must-see. Hewn from the rock faces and usually painted with frescoes, these prehistoric chapels were used as Christian worship sites for hundreds of years. Some of them are Chiesa di Santa Maria di Idris and Chiesa di San Giovanni in Monterrone, from where one gets fantastic views of the Sassi’s cliffs.

The Murgia National Park

Adjacent to the city of Matera is Murgia National Park, an area of considerable landscape and species variety with several archaeological attractions. Its attractions include trails through the park to Late Antique Byzantine cave shrines also known as rock churches and spectacular overlooks of the Sassi. Bird lovers will also enjoy the variety of birds that can be sighted in the park since these are major attractions for bird enthusiasts.

Local Events and Festivals

In addition to the Festa della Bruna, Matera hosts several other events throughout the year: In addition to the Festa della Bruna, Matera hosts several other events throughout the year:

Matera Film Festival: Movies rejoice in this festival as independent films are screened and filmmakers get together from all corners of the earth.

Matera Jazz Festival: This festival is conducted in summer, and great jazz masters act in the city, which becomes a focus of musical and cultural events.

Christmas in Matera: Another feature of Christmas time – the night view in the Sassi looks like something out of a fairy tale with its nativity scenes and lights.

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Conclusion

Matera is a city where through its landscapes, historical past, and present-day colourful appearance, it leaves visitors in a state of awe. This makes it unique in that it has the influence of both the old and the new world with the added influence of the warm nature of its people. Food lovers pin their taste buds on the local dishes while the lovers of culture find a classic experience in the Sassi of Matera and cultural events that underline the importance of this city. So do not rush and try to peacefully stroll along the narrow streets, talk to people, and enjoy the atmosphere of this astonishing city. When deciding to visit a particular place, most generative words are attributed to Matera not only as a city – it is a living history of humanity. So take your suitcase and get ready to be enchanted by the beauty of Matera, Italy.