A City Where the Living Sleep Beneath the Dead: Matera, Italy

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Matera is famous for cave hotels

Matera is famous for cave hotels

Matera is a famous tourist attraction for its cave hotels. Where the rooms are actual caves. Perfect bucket list place for families, couples and solo travelers. Depending on the seasons, the rooms can get a little humid with interconnected family rooms. Matera offers accommodations from high to lower budget. All these cave rooms have arched ceilings and proper ventilation. With 10 millennia of history, this city has many layers to it. So you can expect it to be a little over the dark side. The cave dwellings are prominent in Sassi di Matera, which translates into Stones of Matera. The incredible Sassi districts consist of original empty caves with beautifully planned homely structure. The beguiling architecture looks almost unreal. From tumbling rooftops and weather worn walls, Matera has come a long way.

European capital of culture

European capital of culture

Today, it is the European capital of culture. One can state Matera as a crown Jewel of Italy. This labyrinth of this city is a natural film set. From James Bond’s ‘No time to die’; Mel Gibson’s ‘Passion of Christ’ (crucifixion scene) and also appeared as the Amazon city of Themyscura in ‘Wonder Women’. The best view of Sassi di Matera is from the opposite side of the ravine. An area called La Belvedere di Mugia Timone. From across the canyon, the view of Sassi is breathtaking.

Best way to explore Matera

Best way to explore Matera

The best way to explore Matera is by foot. Most of the tourist attractions are connected and traceable back to the city centre. One can just get lost in this wonderful city. There are many things you can do in Matera. If you ask me, the first one is getting lost. I can also tell you how to do it. Start walking from Sassi downwards; you will reach Sassi caveno, the lower part of the town, where empty caves are found. It’s thought to have 8-10 layers of houses and the floor of the cave you are standing might as well be the roof of an embellished rock church below you.

Store of aromatic herbs

Store of aromatic herbs

If you walk upside the city, you will find many exotic places, pavement-side cafes and aromatic herb stores. Matera is also called as the underground city because of a 16th-century underground water cistern, The Palomboro Lungo, excavated in the early 1990s. There are many underground water cisterns in Matera but this one is the largest. Carved with rock pillars, it is 50 meter underground. Marvelously navigable by a boat and can hold up to 5 million liters of water. There are around 140 rock -cut Roman and baroque churches in and round Matera. Like, St. Anthony church, Church of Purgatory etc. You can also learn about the history of Matera in Casa nova. Among the trekking peaks in Matera, the most beautiful one is the view from Belvedere di Piazza.

Matera- A typical reconstruction of the 20th-century cave dwelling.

Matera- A typical reconstruction of the 20th-century cave dwelling.

This city has an old soul. Its stones breathe air. Like Casa Crotta di vico Solitario. A typical reconstruction of the 20th century cave dwelling. Its open every day from 9:30 AM to 8 PM. Entrance fee is 5 Euro for adults and 3 euro for groups with a guide. This town almost looks surreal during all seasons of the year. Pretty Palazzos, delicious pizzas and rock churches in the western part of the town known as Piano (plateau). Matera is a best place to visit in Italy, if you want to catch the reality while it is ticking away. One can only bow down at the dramatic tangle of stones of this glorious city.

How to get to Matera, Italy?

How to get to Matera, Italy?

Matera is 250kms from Naples. The closest airport is 40 miles away. You will have to take a flight into Bari in the neighboring Puglia region. If you hire a car, you have to park in the new Port of Matera as driving in old town Matera is restricted.

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