Even 007 has yielded to the millenary charm of the charming city of Matera, in Basilicata, one of the oldest in the world. Matera has enjoyed great attention in recent years, not only for the films set here, but also because in 2019 it had the title of European Capital of Culture, with a full calendar of events that have brought tourists from all over Italy and beyond.
Matera is a city with many faces, able to show on the one hand an ancient and traditional spirit, on the other a vocation to the future, in full respect of its identity. If you are planning a trip to Basilicata and want to know more about Matera read on to discover with us all the wonders of this place.
Millennia of history
You can not talk about Matera without mentioning its thousand-year history. This area has been inhabited since the Paleolithic. Archaeologists have found numerous traces that testify to the presence of settlements since ancient times, without evidence of a period of neglect. Indeed, the feeling is that in this area civilizations have followed one after another, allowing Matera to cross several millennia of history.
Besides the traces relative to the Paleolithic there are elements that allow to hypothesize a Greek origin for the real city. After the Greeks the domain would pass first to the Romans and then to the Lombards and Normans. The traces and information become clearer and more evident with the arrival of the Middle Ages.
The events that have brought the city to the present are very numerous, and exploring the history of Matera you can see an alternation of flourishing periods of decadence. Today it is one of the main centers of Southern Italy, and an important tourist hub that attracts travelers from all over the world.
The Sassi of Matera
Among the main testimonies of the long history of Matera there are undoubtedly its homonymous Sassi. These are ancient dwellings that have been excavated inside the limestone.
The Sassi di Matera are very famous not only because they date back several millennia ago, but because throughout history they have been continuously inhabited, without experiencing periods of neglect, as often happens to some buildings in the transition from one era to another. Just think of all the buildings of Roman origin that can be encountered traveling around Italy, often reduced to ruins for several centuries.
On the contrary, the Sassi di Matera are unique in the world because they still represent a housing solution, with many families who have chosen to live inside, through renovation works that have renovated the interior of these particular buildings.
The first traces of human activity in the Sassi go back several millennia before the arrival of both the Greeks and the Romans. Their great historical and cultural importance led UNESCO to proclaim them a World Heritage Site in 1993.
Foto : Unsplash
Architecture not to be missed
From an architectural point of view, the uniqueness of Matera is not limited to the Sassi. A good example is the Cathedral of Matera, also called the cathedral. From here you can admire a truly breathtaking landscape.
The structure dates back to the thirteenth century, and for its construction was followed the Romanesque style, widespread at the time. We suggest you enter inside to admire the fresco of the Madonna della Bruna, along with an ancient crib dating back to the ‘500 and carved by Altobello Persio.
The thirteenth century was a really flourishing period for the religious architecture of Matera, since in the same period the Church of San Giovanni Battista and the Church of San Pietro Caveoso were built. Both have undergone some changes over the centuries, the original structure is still almost intact.
A city to live
Matera is not only a city to visit for its historical and cultural heritage, but is also and above all a city to live. The good weather dominates for most of the year, making the capital of Lucania a perfect destination for those who want to spend a few pleasant days in our beloved South.
There is no shortage of tourist facilities, as well as events that often involve citizenship for entire weekends. Before planning your holiday, we recommend that you inquire about the upcoming events.
And if you are in the city you can not miss the food and wine side of Matera, enjoying some typical dishes, such as waffle, a soup that is part of the local culinary tradition. Simple ingredients are used, including tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and stale bread, with a little basil and olive oil. It has a unique and inimitable flavor, and lends itself well to be enjoyed both in winter and summer.
Another dish we suggest you try is crapiata. It is prepared with ingredients that are anything but complicated and refined: legumes and seasonal vegetables are enough.
Finally, as for wines, we suggest you to taste a good glass of Aglianico del Vulture, a robust and intense red wine.
Autore : Andrea Prosperi
Copertina: Unsplash
