Matera the city of the Sassi

Visiting Matera means discovering the traces of a past still visible today. Living the city, it is possible to know, as Carlo Levi said, its aching beauty.

For Primo, beautiful, to walk all around, is the ancient Borgo, where you can visit the Sasso Caveoso and the Sasso Barisano. Between the two there is the rocky spur of the Civita, where you can visit the noble palaces and the Cathedral of Matera. The Sasso Caveoso, rich in cave dwellings conceals the secrets of the city, while the Sasso Barisano represents the ancient site where merchants 'and artisans' shops resided. The Church of San Francesco d'Assisi is a masterpiece in the late Baroque style. It was designed by Vito Valentino and Tommaso Pennetta and stands out in the Piazza di San Francesco. It was built on the ancient church of the Saints Pietro and Paolo, which can be accessed through a trap door. Inside there is a fresco depicting the visit of Pope Urban II to Matera in 1903. The church was built in the thirteenth century but reached its peak in the eighteenth century. According to some the church was visited by the same Francesco D'Assisi in 1218, when he was visiting Matera. Another church not to be missed is the Church of San Pietro Barisano , which is the largest of the rock churches in Matera. Inside there are three naves and some frescoes have kept the brilliance of their original colors. Visiting the Ridola Museum you can make a real journey through history. The latter was created in 1922 on the orders of Domenico Ridola and is located in the convent of Santa Chiara.

On the highest spur of the Civita, which divides the 2 stones, stands the Cathedral of the Madonna della Bruna and Sant'Eustachio. Built in the Apulian Romanesque style between 1230 and 1270 where the Benedictine monastery of Sant'Eustachio, protector of the city, stood where Pope Urban II stayed between 1093 and 1094. The outside, Unlike the interior, it preserves its original shape almost intact. The façade is dominated by the rose window with sixteen rays, surmounted by the archangel Michael. At the center of the facade there is the main door, closed by an arch and the Madonna della Bruna in the lunette. On the sides of the door there are statues of Saints Peter and Paul. The interior is a Latin cross and has three naves. It has undergone considerable transformations since 1627 with the addition of stuccos and decorations. Very beautiful the hard stone crib made by sculptors Altobello Persio and Sannazzaro of Alessano between 1530 and 1534. The main altar restored in 1627 is dominated by the large altarpiece executed by Fabrizio Santafede depicting the Virgin surrounded by Saints. In the apse there is the valuable wooden choir in solid walnut carved in 1453 by Giovanni Tantino di Ariano Irpino, divided into 60 stalls.

The Church of San Giovanni Battista , is a clear demonstration of medieval architecture. It is located near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and Piazza San Rocco. The external façade is in Romanesque style, while inside you can admire Gothic art. Palazzo Lanfranchi has a baroque style facade that will certainly capture your attention. Since 2003 it has been the seat of the National Museum of Modern Art of Basilicata and today it is divided into 4 areas: Sacred Art, Collectibles, Contemporary Art and Demo-ethno-anthropology. On the ground floor you can admire "Lucania '61" by Carlo Levi, a work designed to honor the centenary of the Unification of Italy. The Church of Santa Maria di Idris is located inside the Sasso Caveoso, among the rocks of the Monterrone. It is a modest church, with a single nave and, according to legend, the women climbed the stairs of the church on their knees, during periods of drought, in order to call back the rain.

When it comes to nightlife, Matera is not unprepared: the most frequented area is that of the Sassi district, and being the pedestrian area, it is possible to enter streets and alleys that will show you the night Matera. Being the city capital of culture, you will find among the events offered theatrical performances, concerts, exhibitions and much more. If you find yourself near the Sasso Barisano, take a walk in the blind alley Salsamenteria: a place born from the union of two caves, which will fascinate you thanks to its vintage decor. If, on the other hand, you want to sip a drink and accompany you with good music, you must try Shibuya. A cool place, where you can drink drinks in the company of celebrities, is Lucana Abundance. If you are walking towards Piazza del Sedile, you can take a tour of the Arturo, which is also very popular. In any case, by exploring the narrow streets of Matera, you can discover the locals that animate the city on your own.

Climate: The ideal season to visit Matera is Spring. In fact, the mild spring climate makes the excursions much more pleasant. Winter is cold, but we are still talking about a bearable cold, given that we are in the South. In summer, instead, you risk suffering the heat, even if, staying in the Matera stones, you can enjoy the cool.

Curiosity: The origin of the name Matera, is shrouded in mystery. According to some scholars, its origin is due to the Greek, while others say it derives from "Mataios olos" which means "all vacuous". Still others believe that the name Matera was born from the word Metèoron, which means "starry sky" in reference to the lights of the city, which in the late evening, make it look like a crib. There are many other theories about it, but what is certain is that the origin of the name Matera is still unknown today. It is known that Matera was dug out of the rock, but to demonstrate that the city was once covered by the sea, are the fossilized shells in the walls. A historical custom, which today has been lost, is that of the stamps of bread. In Matera, until the 1950s, each family prepared their own loaves and then cooked them in the city oven. In order to avoid misunderstandings, each family left a stamp on their own loaf, so as not to confuse it with others. Moreover, according to tradition, some Materans used to give a stamp to the girls, and this gesture meant asking them to help. If the stamp was rejected, the marriage proposal was refused. Both cinema and literature have honored this city: in fact it has been the location of famous films, such as Il Vangelo secondo Matteo by Pier Paolo Pasolini (1964), La passione di Cristo, directed by Mel Gibson (1994), 007 James Bond (2019 ) and many others. As mentioned above, Matera has not always been the capital of culture, but otherwise it has been a symbol of social decay in the past. The first to deal with the subject was Carlo Levi, who wrote "Christ stopped at Eboli", a book with which he denounced the conditions in which the caves were at the time.

Tips: If you are in Matera at the beginning of July, don't miss the feast of the Madonna della Bruna, a popular festival, deeply felt by the people of Matera.