This picturesque and ‘unspoilt’ city in southern Italy is a culture lover’s dream. It is the third oldest city in the world and has earned the well-deserved title of UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for its rock-hewn houses and churches.
Matera, known as the “Stone City” PHOTO: C. Mazilu
In the Basilicata region is the ancient city of Matera, which is the oldest city in Europe. The city was built above a ravine, called Gravina de Matera, and is known as “Sassi di Matera”, “sassi” -translating through stones into Italian, writes the publication Express.
Although the city now overflows with beauty, it was once known as a “national disgrace”. Nicknamed “the shame of Italy,” the city was ravaged by chronic poverty where people died of hunger and disease, reports National Geographic.
By the late 1800s the cave dwellings of Matera had become noted for “perpetual poverty, poor sanitation, improper working conditions and aggressive diseases”. Evacuated in 1952, the population was moved to modern housing and the Sassi (“stones”) remained abandoned until the 1980s.
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Matera, known as the “Underground City” or the “Stone City” PHOTO: C. Mazilu
The town has since been repopulated with bars, restaurants and boutique hotels, and tourists now travel from all over to enjoy all it has to offer – which have been raised from former cave dwellings.
Currently, about 70% of the housing in Sassi is owned by the Italian government, with most of the residents being tenants.
The cultural city has been the filming location for many Hollywood blockbusters, so it’s worth taking a guided walking tour of the cobbled streets.
There are numerous museums for those with an affinity for history, with the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture displaying masterpieces by artists such as Arnaldo Pomodoro amongst the catacombs of the caves.
so-called
“new town” (which was formed in the 17th century) is the place to spend your evenings in Matera, with lively cocktail bars, live music and delicious piazza restaurants.
A travel enthusiast claims to be a “virgin region”. Chloe Rushworth, who runs the Instagram account @thewhitepinesproject, urged her audience to “go to this part of Italy before it becomes popular’.
“Honestly, Matera is the most incredible ancient city. You can’t miss it. It’s the perfect alternative to other romantic getaways like Rome. I highly recommend staying in one of the boutique cave hotels. It was absolutely exceptional and the view from the terrace was simply insane”claims the internet user.
Matera has 60,341 inhabitants, according to demographic data from 2020.
