Matera Italy. The ancient city of Matera is one of the first settlements in Italy. National Museum of Domenico Ridola
If we accept the figurative comparison of the outlines with a boot, then Matera really finds himself between his “heel” and “sole”.
Matera is the center of the southern Italian province of the same name, located near a small canyon, along the bottom of which the small river Gravina flows. The canyon, formed as a result of water erosion processes, is located on the Murdzha plateau - a limestone hill in which the Gravina River has formed other forms of karst relief - caves, funnels and gullies, which are found in abundance both around the city and right in it.
The place seems rather inhospitable: there are only limestone rocks around, there is practically no soil on them, which is why there are few trees. If there is vegetation here and there, it is thorny bushes clinging to the slopes of the canyon.
Oddly enough, since Paleolithic times people have settled in this inhospitable-looking canyon of the Murdzha plateau. Perhaps the first inhabitants of these places appreciated the inaccessibility of their favorite karst caves to enemies and predators. Traces of the life of Paleolithic-Neolithic people are still found in caves today.
It is known for sure that before the Greeks and Romans appeared on the territory of modern Matera, the Lucans lived here - people of one of the ancient Italian tribes, distinguished by their extreme belligerence: if they did not fight with their neighbors, they went to serve as mercenaries for the Macedonians.
It is not known exactly when the city appeared here: according to one version, it was founded by the Romans in the 111th century. BC e. In ancient times, it was called Mateola - a tribute to the ancient Roman consul Quintus Caecilius Metella of Numidia (circa 160-91 BC), who made a lot of efforts to protect the city: under his supervision, the city was surrounded by high fortifications. This was necessary because Matera was located next to the Appian Way, and residents grew rich by reselling wheat and servicing passing merchants. It also had an advantageous position reverse side: the city was sacked more than once during riots, and during the Second Punic War (218-202 BC) the Carthaginians completely destroyed it.
When the Western Roman Empire died during the invasion of the Gothic tribes, in the V-VI centuries. Matera was first under the rule of Byzantium, and in the Vll century. it was captured by the Lombards, and the city became part of the Duchy of Benevento - part of the Lombard kingdom.
In Vll-Vlll centuries. Temples carved into them appeared in the rocks, which were created by monks - Benedictines and Basilians. This happened even before Christianity split into Catholicism and Orthodoxy.
The era of the early Middle Ages was a series of endless feudal wars in southern Italy. At the end of the Vlll century. Matera was captured by troops of the Frankish king Charles (7 42 (7 48-814), and in the 9th century - King Louis II of Italy (825-875). At the end of the 10th century, the townspeople barely managed to hold the city, besieged by the Saracens, when they tried to create a springboard in southern Italy for the capture of the entire peninsula. At the beginning of the 11th century, the city was captured by the Byzantines, and in 1043 by the Normans of Count William the Iron Hand (about 1010-1046).
Even during World War II, Matera remained a quiet province, shaken from time to time by earthquakes. But on September 21, 1943, on the eve of the entry of Anglo-American troops, Matera became the first city in Italy to rebel against the German occupiers.
STONE HIVE
Indeed, in Italy, if someone talks about “pietra alveare” - a stone beehive, then those around them will understand without explanation that they are talking about Matera.
The historical center of Matera is called Sassi (in Italian “Stones”): it is a relatively small area of rhombic outlines with sides of about 500 m. Under the ancient Greeks, there was an ancient acropolis here, excavations of which are still ongoing today. But the main feature of the Sassi is that this part of Matera is carved out of the rock, for which it received the nickname La Citta Sotterania, or the Underground City. The city consists of many natural grottoes, catacombs, water reservoirs, arcades, residential buildings, churches and even palaces. All of them are either made of stone or carved directly into the rock, creating a unique natural-urban landscape. In some parts of the city, streets run along the roofs of houses.
The city authorities have figured out how to use the caves without harming them: an annual retrospective of modern sculpture by Grandi Mostre nei Sassi is held right in the cave complex of St. Nicholas.
The architects of antiquity paid special attention to the creation of rainwater reservoirs: raising water into the city from the river is not at all easy. The largest reservoir has survived to this day; it was nicknamed the “Long Diver” for its gigantic size: its walls reach a height of 15 m, and people navigate it underground by boat. Like other reservoirs in Matera, the Long Diver is designed to collect rainwater, from where it is distributed throughout the city.
Back in the first half of the twentieth century. it became clear that it was no longer possible to leave people in this ancient place, where people lived in premises built 9 thousand years ago. In addition, the area constantly suffered from malaria, spread from the river and stagnant waters in ancient reservoirs. In the 1950s Most of Sassi's population was relocated to purpose-built modern areas to the west and north of the historical core of the city (many had to be forcibly relocated as they became accustomed to their caves). Since there is not enough money for the resettlement program, many residents of Matera still live in the rocks today - without any amenities. For many Smaterani, this situation is familiar: the poverty level here is very high, and the income of the population is the lowest in Italy.
Almost in the very center of the Sassi rises Cathedral with a square bell tower 52 m high. This is the first above-ground church that belonged to the brotherhood of Christ the Flagellated. The cathedral was founded back in 1230, when Matera became the residence of the archbishop. Construction was completed only in the 1270s. King of Sicily Charles I of Anjou (1227-1285). At first, the cathedral was dedicated to St. Eustachius, the patron saint of the city. In 1318, the city authorities raised the status of the cathedral by “re-dedicating” it in honor of the Madonna della Bruna. The origin of the cult of this Madonna and the feast of Our Lady della Bruna are associated with the same time.
Every year on July 2 at five in the morning, the “Procession of the Shepherds” with a painting of the Mother of God takes place throughout the city. At noon, the townspeople march through Matera, accompanying the statue of the Madonna della Bruna, moving on a large papier-mâché cart drawn by mules. The cart is followed by the archbishop and the clergy, guarded by the “knights of della Bruna” in iron armor. At the end of the procession, the cart is left in Piazza Vittorio Veneta, the townspeople break it into pieces and take it home - happiness is in the hay.”
In 1993, Sassi - the "City of the Rocks" - along with its ancient rock temples and Byzantine-style frescoes, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
ATTRACTIONS OF MATERA
Historical:
■ Historic center of Sassi (districts of Sasso Caveoso, Sasso Barisano and Civita, around 670).
■ Water reservoir Palombaro Lungo (“Long Diver”, 1st millennium BC).
Architectural:
■ Tramontano Castle (early 16th century).
■ Palace fir Sedile (1540).
■ Lanfranchi Palace (1668-1672).
■ Palazzo d'Anunziata (1735).
■ Fountain of Ferdinand (1832).
■ Villa Longo (XIX century).
Iconic:
■ Church of Lucia on Malva (VIII century).
■ Church of Our Lady of Virtue (IX century).
■ Church of St. Barbara (IX-X centuries),
■ Church of St. Peter Barisano (10th century).
■ Church of Our Lady Hodegetria (XII century).
■ Church of St. John (XII century).
■ Church of St. Francis of Assisi (XIII century).
■ Church of San Domenico (1230).
■ Cathedral of Matera (1270).
■ Church of St. Clare (late 17th century).
■ Monastery of St. Augustine (1592).
Cultural:
■ Paleontological Museum.
■ Museum of Contemporary Sculpture MUSMA.
■ National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art.
■ National Museum of Domenico Ridola.
■ Archaeological excavations on Thimmari Hill.
Natural:
■ Alta Murja Plateau National Park.
■ Historical natural and archaeological park of Murgia Matherana (Sasso, Murgia plateau, Gravina river gorge, 1990).
■ Nature reserve and Lake San Giuliano.
■ Thimmari Hill.
FUN FACTS
■ Matera is also the name of Middle Neolithic pottery found in moated ancient settlements and caves around the city of Matera and other places in southern Italy. This is dark, polished pottery in the form of goblets and jugs, with rectangular geometric designs scratched after firing and filled with red ochre. Tayuke matera is a dark, thin-walled dish painted with wide stripes of scarlet color.
■ Some researchers believe that Matera was founded by the ancient Greeks. As proof, they cite the old coat of arms of the city with the image of an ox and ears of wheat - a very common symbol of the Ancient One, found on coins. The image of a bull with three ears of wheat has been preserved on the city’s coat of arms to this day. The coat of arms bears the motto Bos Lassus Firmius Figit Pedem, which can be translated from Latin as “The ox is tired of pulling the yoke,” which reflects the events of centuries ago when the townspeople rebelled against taxes and intimidation by the feudal lords.
■ There is no consensus regarding the name of the city, which could come from mata (a pile of stones), meteoron (starry sky, since at night the Sassi cave houses, illuminated from the inside, resembled it), madre terra (Mother Earth), matterah (prison) or those terah ( pure water).
■ In the historical center of Sassi, many gardens were built, directly above the caves, which were used as cemeteries during the Renaissance. A paradoxical situation was created: people lived underground, and the dead were buried literally above their heads.
■ The houses are carved out of limestone so that in summer sunlight falls vertically into the house from above and does not heat the room, and in winter it penetrates at an angle deeper into the grottoes and warms them. This, in particular, helped maintain a fairly high temperature in the cave houses all year round.
■ Matera's water tanks are built in such a way that natural filtration of water occurs in them: stone cavities are cut in the shape of an inverted cone, solid particles settle in a narrow part of the sump, and water suitable for consumption is stored on the surface. Once or twice a year the tank was cleaned: a small child was lowered through the neck to scrape out the dirt.
■ The life of the inhabitants of Matera was extremely simply arranged due to the cramped conditions. As a rule, there was only one bed - wide and very high, up to 120 cm from the floor: it was warmer, and there was space under the bed for hay (livestock and poultry were kept in the next room) and firewood. The children slept in open dresser drawers. The table was small; mother and father sat at it, and the children ate standing up.
■ Electricity came to Matera only in the 1930s.
■ During the Second World War, Matera became famous for the exceptional courage of its citizens, who were the first in southern Italy to take up arms against Italian and German fascism. After the war, the city was awarded the state Silver Medal “For Military Valor - (Al valore militare) - as stated in the certificate, “for exceptional self-sacrifice.”
■ The unusual appearance of the city, evoking associations with the biblical description of Jerusalem, attracted outstanding film directors who shot such famous feature films here as “The Gospel of Matthew” (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1964), “Christ Stopped at Eboli” (Francesco Rosi, 1979 ), “King David” (Bruce Beresford, 1985), “The Passion of the Christ” (Mel Gibson, 2004), “The Omen” (John Moore, 2006), “Ben-Hur” (Timur Bekmambetov , 2016).
In the southern part of Italy, in a province called Basilicata, there is a small beautiful and ancient city that few people know about. Matera has existed in the canyon of the Gravina River since prehistoric times (from Neolithic times). Due to the unique historical part of the city called "Sassi", Matera is also sometimes called the "Underground City".
It has been proven that people lived here as early as 9,000 years ago, but the official history of the city begins with the Romans, namely in the third century BC. The original name of the Roman village was Mateola. Historians believe that the name was probably given in honor of the Roman consul Lucius Caecilius Metellus.
In 664 AD, after the Lombards conquered the province of Matera, the city had many owners.
In the 9th and 10th centuries, Matera was constantly fought over by the Byzantine and German emperors, until William the Iron Hand began to rule it. At the beginning of the 17th century, the city's importance grew so much that it became the capital of the entire Basilicata region. Matera held this “position” until 1806, when the capital was moved to Potenza.
Matera also played an important role during World War II when she became the first Italian city, who began an active struggle against the Wehrmacht.
Probably the most interesting part of the city is its historical center - old part city, which is called "Sassi di Matera".
Sassi (meaning "stones") still has prehistoric houses built by cavemen (troglodytes) who inhabited the region thousands of years ago. The village of Sassi is very similar to the dwellings in the village of Mellieha in northern Malta.
Since archaeological evidence shows that the first settlements of primitive people existed here as early as 7000 BC, the "Sassi di Matera" is considered one of the first settlements in modern Italy.
These Sassi dwellings were painstakingly carved out of the limestone rocks. There were so many underground houses in some parts of this area that the streets were literally built on the “roofs” of the houses.
Due to a number of changes in public policy and due to a malaria epidemic threatening it in the 1950s, the Italian government decided to move the inhabitants of Sassi to a newly built part of the city.
However, many people refused to move, so today Matera is the only place in the world where people can boast that they still live in the houses of their ancestors, in which they lived 9,000 years ago.
The Gravina River divides the city, built on rocks above ancient cave dwellings, into two parts. This feature led to the fact that water was very difficult to access for its inhabitants. This is why people started making huge tanks (known as "cisterns").
One of the largest water reservoirs is located under Piazza Vittorio Veneto. The height of its walls is as much as 15 meters and there are even boat tours inside it. As the population in Matera began to increase, many of the old "cisterns" were eventually converted into residential buildings.
Church of San Francesco d'Assisi.
Cave houses are not the only attraction in Matera. You can also find some very beautiful churches in this city. For example, the central cathedral of Matera, which is called Santa Maria Della Bruna, was built in 1389 and is topped by a 52-meter bell tower.
The historic center of Matera still retains its original charm. Because of this, many directors choose this city as their perfect place for filming ancient Jerusalem.
Many films based on biblical subjects were filmed here, such as “The Gospel of Matthew” directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini (1964), or “The Passion of the Christ” by Mel Gibson (2004). Today, Matera is a thriving town with many businesses, taverns and hotels, and its beauty literally captivates thousands of visitors every year.
It is also located in Italy. She is truly impressive!
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Sassi di Matera is an ancient part of the small modern town of Matera in Italy. It is located in the east of the country and resembles a Roman amphitheater with grotto houses hiding terraces. It has been proven that the place of Sassi was inhabited back in the Neolithic era and has a rich history, including architecture and archaeological finds.
Today Sassi is the historical center of Matera, which is located in a set of limestone rocks that form the gorge of the small river Gravina. You can see carved living quarters and underground churches in the rocks. Historians are inclined to assume that the age of underground dwellings is 9 thousand years.
The old town of Sassi is a tangle of houses, caves and chapels. In the Middle Ages, commoners lived on the outskirts of Sassi, in grotto houses, and the aristocratic elite lived in the central part of the city. Today the caves are a tourist attraction. In some grottoes, museums have been opened where the original atmosphere of the old city has been preserved.
You can spend both day and night in the cave city, or you can stay in cave houses with 18 comfortable rooms. Part of the hotel is located in the building of a medieval church.
Built of stone and rock-hewn churches, palaces along with underground catacombs and reservoirs give the Sassi an attractive appearance. Sassi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Let's find out more about this city...
Photo 2. 
The core of the city originated on the opposite slopes of a river valley called the Gravina di Matera cleft. During Magna Graecia it was a Greek city, the center of which was Civita. Today the Cathedral, built in the 13th century, stands here. In the Roman era, the city was fortified with a wall, and numerous grottoes and rocky massifs began to be used to build village dwellings, and thus the birth of Sassi neighborhoods. Over time, the neighborhoods grew, the labyrinth of limestone grotto houses grew larger, and the neighborhoods began to be called Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, Civita remained between them.
Sassi (translated as “stones”) is the historical center of Matera, located in a rocky pit and consisting of three districts: Sasso Caveoso, Sasso Barisano and Civita. The site has been inhabited since the Neolithic era and has a very rich history, well illustrated by the architecture and archaeological areas found in the Sassi. As a residential area, the Sassi can be said to have been shaped by various civilizations. In the prehistoric era, villages protected by trenches were built here, and in the period from the 9th to the 11th centuries, when the Sassi was inhabited by peoples of eastern origin, the area began to take on urban contours - a system of streets, sewers, and water reservoirs appeared. The Norman-Suevian settlements of the 11th-13th centuries were marked here by powerful military fortifications; they were followed by the Spaniards with Renaissance architecture (15th-16th centuries), and the 17th-18th centuries brought Baroque architecture here.
Photo 3. 
There were many vegetable gardens in the city and hanging gardens, covered with vaults. During the Renaissance, these vaults were used for burials, and it turned out that living people lived underground, and the dead were buried above ground. At night, residents lit torches near their homes, and to those who looked at the city from the top of the hill, it might seem that in front of them was another sky strewn with stars. This spectacle so impressed travelers that the origin of the name of the city of Matera began to be mistakenly associated with the Greek word “meteora” - starry sky. Despite the many transformations that Sassi has undergone over the centuries, the city still retains its ancient outline in its layout, which from a bird's eye view resembles the shape of the Greek Omega. The hillsides were cut with irrigation canals that carried water from reservoirs located on the hill that were filled with rainwater. The main components of the city were courtyards with wells, around which were the entrances to living quarters and a bakery. Such courtyards also defined the fundamental cells of Sassi society, since life between its inhabitants was always marked by solidarity and cooperation. Sunlight entered the dwelling from above - in the summer, falling perpendicularly, the rays could not heat the room, and in winter, falling at an angle, the light penetrated deeper into the grottoes and warmed them. In addition, the proximity of large stone masses, which served as natural radiators, made it possible to maintain the temperature in houses at approximately 15 degrees all year round.
Photo 4. 
In the 8th century to the ground Matera Many Byzantine monks moved in and built churches in the grottoes, similar to those that can be found in Cappadocia (Turkey) or Syria.
Local residents who were in difficult financial situations built their homes in Sassy using natural grottoes. The streets of the cave city were narrow with many steps and ladders.
In 1623 Matera became the capital of Basilicata and remained there until 1806, then Napoleon Bonaparte moved the capital to Potenza. This was the best period for Matera.
Local residents experienced great difficulties with water. Therefore, they spent their energy not on building houses, but on digging channels and trenches in the limestone to collect water and a system of various cisterns. Water was used not only on the farm, but also for rural work. The village of trenches, as they called it Materu.
A channel for collecting water into a cistern located in one of the houses. Matera. Basilicata. Italy.
Thanks to this ancient practice, residents Matera They turned their city into a green place, with hanging gardens, vegetable gardens and trees.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the demographic boom that began four centuries earlier reached its apogee. Additional floors were added to houses, vegetable gardens, pastures and hanging gardens disappeared, stone cisterns were adapted for one-room apartments in which people managed to live with mules and sheep.
After the Second World War it was published Carlo Levi's book "Christ Stopped at Eboli", in which Levi wrote about the unbearable living conditions in Sassi di Matera.
He was exiled to the south of Italy for his anti-fascist statements, arriving in Materu, he was horrified by what he saw. In the 1930s half the population lived in caves; due to the heat, many houses were open, dogs, sheep, goats and pigs lay on the floor. “Most families had only one cave, and everyone slept in it together - men, women, children and animals.”
He compares Sassi to a huge funnel, evoking the majestic image of Hell from Dante's Divine Comedy. However, Levi's image turned out to be more than just a poetic metaphor: excessive overpopulation caused a social and sanitary collapse, as a result of which in the 50s the inhabitants were forced to move from the Sassi to other places. People began to settle here again only decades later, starting in 1986.
Carlo Levi saw Materu at a time when the population had grown to its maximum size. There was not enough space and more floors were built over the caves. Hanging gardens and vegetable gardens were no longer planted, and huge families lived in unsanitary conditions, without sewerage, and without observing basic hygiene standards.
Now Sassy is alive again.
Photo 5. 
Then arose "Matera's problem", which grew to the size of a “shame on the nation.” And in 1952 they decided to move residents to new quarters, freeing up the cave houses. At that time, about 15 thousand people lived in Sassi. Many of them did not want to leave their homes and returned back, then the authorities walled up the entrances to the caves with cement.
In 1993 Sassi di Matera(Sasso Caveoso, Sasso Barisano and Civita) were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
After Sassi di Matera became uninhabited, they became the scenery for many films. Pier Paolo Pasolini filmed “The Gospel According to Matthew” here in 1964, and Mel Gibson “The Passion of the Christ” in 2004.
Sassi di Matera were built in different centuries and by different civilizations. There are prehistoric traces preserved here, churches covered with frescoes from the 7th century. and rocky buildings of the 9th-11th centuries. and later. IN Sasso Caveoso grotto houses have been preserved, some of which can be visited.
Matera. Basilicata. Italy.
For example, historic house on Vico Solitario, which reproduces the situation of the times when it was inhabited.
In the middle of the room there is a high bed on which the whole family slept. Under the bed there is a pot, a trough and other utensils that were taken out during the day. There is also a stall for animals and a dining table. The kitchenette was in a separate small room, another room was used as a utility room, a “pipe hole” was used to collect snow, which melted and provided precious water.
Light came into the house from a small window upstairs. The temperature in the houses was almost constant 15 degrees, the tuff in which the houses were built worked as climate control.
Matera. Basilicata. Italy.
Matera. Basilicata. Italy.
Matera. Basilicata. Italy.
Matera. Basilicata. Italy.
Matera. Basilicata. Italy.
Church of San Pietro Caveoso, built in 1218 on a small square, is one of the most characteristic and bright places V Matera. In the 17th century The church has undergone many changes and acquired a baroque appearance. Artistic paintings and frescoes are stored inside.
Church of San Pietro Caveoso. Matera. Basilicata. Italy.
Cathedral towers over Sassy. It was erected in the 13th century. in the Civita quarter, which bisects the two Sasso. It has been closed for many years for restoration, and once belonged to a Benedictine monastery. The cathedral is distinguished by a beautiful, sharp rose-shaped window and a 52-meter bell tower. The cathedral houses the famous Byzantine fresco Madonna della Bruna.
IN Matera more than 130 churches and chapels. IN cave churches the columns are stalactites and stalagmites, the uneven walls retain traces of Byzantine frescoes.
Today the cave city is a popular tourist destination. There are no street names or house numbers, and long alleys may end in dead ends. The entrances to many caves are walled up or blocked, but you can find passages and get inside.
The Sassi is a true "cultural landscape" - that's what it is called in the records of world heritage UNESCO, in which it is included. In the Middle Ages, ordinary people lived in the outskirts of Sassi, and the central part of the city was occupied by the aristocratic elite. This part of the city was built on the site of the ancient acropolis, which still holds many surprises. The Sasso Barisano area, located in the northwest at the edge of the cliff, is richest in a variety of sculptural portals and friezes that are hidden in underground catacombs. The Sasso Caveoso district, located to the east, resembles a Roman amphitheater with grotto houses opening onto terraces. In the center of Sassi is the Civita district, which is a rocky outcrop separating the other two districts, on the top of which stands the cathedral. The UNESCO-protected archaeological zone also includes the Murgia plateau and the Gravina di Matera gorge, where unique underground churches are located.
Photo 6. 
The panorama of Sassi is a truly mesmerizing sight, as the labyrinth of galleries on the mountain ridge opens before the eye, which for centuries has guarded the mysterious city, as if emerging from some kind of oriental fairy tale. Natural grottoes, underground catacombs, ponds, farmsteads, churches and palaces, built of stone or carved into the rock, coexist here, forming an amazing and harmonious natural-urban landscape. The path to Sassi lies through arcades that resemble secret passages. Baroque and Renaissance facades are built here on stone reservoirs from the 8th century, which were adapted for housing. Byzantine churches contain wells that were used in ancient times in the rituals of the cult of Mithras. Some ancient catacombs were used for housing until the 50s of the 20th century, others were abandoned and hidden in the depths of the hill. Beneath the piazza Vittorio Veneto there is a huge tank, called the “Long Diver” (Palombaro lungo), some sections of which were built three thousand years ago, while others were built in the 18th century.
Photo 7. 
Among the underground catacombs of Sassi are huge monastic complexes, with many cells and unique underground churches carved into stone. Their construction is associated with the arrival in Sassi around 1000 AD of the Basilian monks, who brought with them the architectural traditions of Anatolia and Syria. In the underground churches one can observe a strange mixture of different religious traditions: Orthodox iconostases in Catholic-type basilicas; on Byzantine frescoes, where the Mother of God is usually depicted as a queen, there are accessible folk images. In addition to historical attractions, one of the grottoes houses the largest museum of modern sculpture, MUSMA, whose unique collection contains exhibits illustrating the development of Italian and foreign art from the 19th century to the first decades of the 20th century. Some of the grotto houses where people once lived have now also been turned into museums, where the original furnishings have been preserved or reconstructed, allowing the visitor to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the life of the old Sassi.
Photo 8. 
The picturesque landscapes of the ancient city constantly attract filmmakers. Several films have been filmed in Sassi, including Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. In Japan they even created an anime called “Ghost of Matera”, where the action takes place in the catacombs of Sassi
Many tourists come to the ancient city to be transported, as if in a time machine, to the Middle Ages. In addition, the traditions of old artisans and workshops have been preserved in Matera. Simple dishes are prepared here, as before. local cuisine: They cook homemade pasta, bake bread and bakery products from Matheran wheat.
From now on, as before, Sissi is the pride of Matera. Local entrepreneurs have turned the ghost town into a tourism center with hotels, clubs and bars. This was made possible thanks to government subsidies, which made it possible to restore more than half of the old city.
Photo 9. 
Not long ago, an unusual hotel opened here, the rooms of which are located right in the caves. Now tourists will be able to feel like cavemen (troglodytes) of a primitive society, without breaking away from their usual comfort.
Photo 10. 
An unusual hotel town appeared next to the town of Matera. It is located in the medieval cave settlement of Sassi, where about 20 thousand people lived back in 1948. Hundreds of caves and 155 churches were carved into the rocks behind Matera. On this moment all of them are under the protection of UNESCO. In this regard, it seems like a real miracle and a gift for tourists that 18 caves were recently rebuilt into boutique hotels.
Photo 11. 
The hotel city called Sassi di Matera was a unique experiment in integrating modern technology into the atmosphere of the medieval past. At the same time, we managed to find a non-standard solution and not turn cave complex to a regular theme park. At first glance at the doors and rusty keys, you get the impression that this is the entrance to an old barn. Meanwhile, the rooms are full of light and look quite comfortable. The restored cave hotels have everything from comfortable seating to Wi-Fi and luxurious bathrooms. In addition to the walls, beds suspended a meter above the floor on metal cables remind us of the past in some hotels. This is a tribute to the ancient traditions of Sassi. IN medieval city people lived in the same caves with animals, and hanging beds guaranteed them relative privacy from livestock. But the animals produced additional heat and warmed their owners.
Photo 12. 
Sassi has a range of simple 3-star hotels and guesthouses, as well as luxury apartments. Accommodation costs 66 euros and above, and breakfast is included in the price. The unique cave city welcomes guests from April to October.
Photo 13. 
Photo 14. 
In one of the most distinctive regions of Italy, in sunny Basilicata, there is a small town that attracts attention with its unusual story and unique architectonics. Ancient city Matera, excavated from the rock, is the center of the province of the same name and has been under the protection of UNESCO since 1993, becoming the first cultural and archaeological monument southern Italy, inscribed on the World Heritage List.
It’s hard to imagine, but just a few decades ago the caves of Matera were inhabited! Today, this place is a unique example of an urban ecosystem, a rare architectural and landscape ensemble that has perpetuated with its nature significant moments in the history of mankind: from primitive cave dwellings carved into the rock to complex urban structures built on the surface of the earth and integrated with the natural landscape . It brings exceptional joy to the fact that in 2019 Matera will become cultural capital Europe!
Matera: history of origin
The history of Matera goes back centuries. One of the most unusual features This city is due to the fact that the territory of Matera has been continuously inhabited from the Paleolithic era right up to the present day. It is believed that this amazing city is one of the oldest in the world.
Various objects have been found in caves scattered along the Matheran Gorge, indicating that a settlement has existed in this place since Paleolithic times. According to archaeologists, the first villages in these places began to appear during the Neolithic period. From the dwellings of this time period, recesses for logs scraped out of the rocks, as well as tanks for water, grain storage, and even ancient tombs, have still been preserved.
Greek culture had a great influence on the development of the city. It is almost safe to say that Matera is a truly Greek city. This assumption is confirmed by the image of a bull on his coat of arms - a typical symbol of Magna Graecia. Other researchers believe that this bull is the emblem of the ancient Greek city Metaponto, whose inhabitants were forced to flee to Matera after their hometown was destroyed by the Romans. In addition, the spikelets of grain that decorate the same coat of arms of Matera are an integral part of ancient Greek coins.
During the late Middle Ages, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Matera experienced the most difficult and turbulent times, coming under the control of the Lombards, the Byzantines, and the Saracens, until in 867 it became a victim of the bloody battle of Louis II, who united with the Lombards against the Saracen troops. A relatively calm period for Matera began in the 11th century with the arrival of the Normans.
From the first half of the 16th century, the city began to fight for its own autonomy. This began with the events of 1514, when the Materans rebelled against the tyrannical policies of Giovan Carlo Tramontano, who established unheard-of high taxes for the population.
In the second half of the 17th century, Matera, under Spanish control, became the main city of Basilicata and at the same time the seat of the Royal Court. This gave rise to demographic growth and a construction boom, but also led to social decline. A sharp increase in population forced the Materans to settle in premises previously used for industrial purposes, and unrest began to flourish on the streets.
In 1927 Matera became administrative center province of the same name. Only in 1952 did the construction of new residential areas begin and the residents of Materan began to leave their cave dwellings. At that time, about 15,000 people lived in the Matera grottoes. The last “cave dwellers” of Matera were resettled only in the 70s of the 20th century. In 1986, the Sassi di Matera, which had been abandoned for several decades, began to be gradually restored, and in 1993 this amazing city was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Mother Earth or still the Starry Sky
The cave city of Matera, whose name sounds quite courageous and fearless, is so ancient that it is quite difficult to trace the origin of this name. There are many interesting assumptions regarding the origins of its origin, although it is not known for certain what the ancient inhabitants called this settlement in prehistoric times.
According to some researchers, the city of Matera in antiquity was called Mateola, and this name comes from the Greek Mataios olos, which means “Everything is empty.” This theory is quite justified, given the fact that the city is essentially a hollow rock.
Another assumption relates to the important historical event the Hellenistic period, when in the 1st century BC this settlement received refugees from the Greek cities of Metaponto and Heraclea destroyed by the Romans, the names of which served to form the new toponym Met + Hera.
It is possible that Matera comes from the word Mather, that is, Madre Terra, which translated from Italian means “Mother Earth”.
In addition to the above hypotheses, there is a more romantic interpretation of the origin of the word Matera. Some researchers claim that the name of the city comes from the Greek Metèoron, which means “starry sky”. This version has a right to exist. After all, if you imagine Matera in ancient times, when at night the lighting lamps were burning near the dwellings of the Materans, the city, shimmering with numerous lights, from afar became like a real starry sky.
City of Matera – a unique residential complex
Today, Matera is a real treasure of Basilicta, exceptional and original, attracting the attention of numerous tourists from all over the world. The Sassi di Matera, as the historic center of the city is called today, consists of three factions: Sasso “Caveoso”, Sasso “Barisano” and the “Civita” district, located on a hill.
The old quarters of Matera are a network of narrow alleys and steep staircases, arches and underground galleries. In addition to the cave dwellings of the poor, here you can see the palaces of wealthy citizens with balconies and wide terraces, as well as numerous churches, which, like all other units of urban architecture, are dug into the tuff.
The multi-level structure of the city is equipped with a unique water supply system, operating through numerous tanks adapted to collect precipitation. Even during the hottest period, the water in the system remained fresh and cool.
Transfers to Matera
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The dwellings of the Materans are scraped out of tuff, a unique porous mountain rock that is easy to process and at the same time quite durable. The tuff mass remaining after the space for future housing was dug into the rock was used to lay out the front wall, leaving space for the front door and window - the only source of natural light. Excess tuff was sold to wealthier residents, who could afford to build additional rooms on the surface, thus increasing the area of their own housing. In front of the grotto, as a rule, there was a vegetable garden, arranged on the roof of another resident’s house located a level below.
Each habitable cell had its own water tank, which received liquid from the upper, larger storage tanks, as well as from small drainage gutters provided for each individual grotto. The tanks were interconnected, so the water was evenly distributed among all the houses.
The liquid entering the storage tanks settled and became suitable for consumption. Since the tanks were located in the basement of the house, access to water was through a special hole in the floor of the house.
Cave city of Matera: housing structure
In different historical periods, the number of inhabitants of Matera reached 15 thousand people. Several generations had to coexist in the rather limited area of the grotto. It’s hard to believe, but in addition to the owners themselves, their animals also lived in the tuff caves. Of course, the presence of cats and dogs in the house does not surprise anyone, but in the grottoes of Matera, along with people, there were rabbits, chickens, donkeys and even horses! Electricity was brought to the city only in the third decade of the 20th century. Poor families could only afford to buy one light bulb.
In addition, in the houses of the poor, as a rule, there was only one bed: wide and high, as well as one table, at which only two people could fit. Supplies of firewood or hay were stored under the bed, and a hen was also placed there. The height of the bed could reach one meter; adults slept on it. The smallest children were placed in cradles, older children and teenagers were placed on large chests with grain or clothing.
The Materans cooked food on small wood-burning stoves, but bread was baked in public bakeries. They say that to avoid confusion, each housewife put the appropriate family marks on her product.
Laundries were also common in Matera. Ash was used instead of washing powder in ancient times.
Where to stay in Matera
How to get to Matera
From Bari by bus
From Bari, the most convenient option is to use the services of the transport company FLIXBUS, whose buses depart from railway station Bari Centrale twice a day. Flights on the route Bari - Matera operate daily, except Thursday and Friday, travel time is 1 hour 10 minutes.
From Bari by train
When traveling to Matera railway from Bari you should be especially careful:
- trains depart from the FAL (Ferrovie Appulo Lucane) train station, located away from the main Bari Centrale station;
- the Matera – Gravina train departs from track 1;
- It is important to get into the right carriage! After the city of Altamura, one railway line goes to Matera, and the second in the direction of Gravina, while only the first car of the train from Bari goes to Matera. Look for a route sign on it that says Matera-Sud;
- When boarding any other car except the first one, before the Altamura station you must go to the first car of the train.
From Naples by bus
You can get to Matera from Naples using the same FLIXBUS buses that make daily trips to Bari. They depart from the Metropark public car park located next to central station Napoli Centrale, also from railway station Napoli Campi Flegrei, located at the terminus of the Naples metro on Line 6 “Mostra”. Considering that the distance between Matera and Naples is more than 200 km, the journey will take about four and a half hours.