Matera
A bit of history.
Matera counts about 55.000 inhabitants, is located 400 metres above sea level and is 45 km from the seaside. Much appreciated and renowned for its Sassi districts, the town also boasts other charming and beautiful buildings. You can visit the Dome, built in the 13th century, in Romanesque style, standing impressive on the Civita hill. The Civita dates back to medieval times and is to be considered as the first human settlement in the city as you can see from the walls and fortifications it is surrounded by.....
The Sassi district is the ancient heart of the city of Matera. The Sassi surround the Civita and constitute a city unto itself, completely carved out of the face of the calcareous rock -what is known as tufa stone. The Sassi district is a system made of dwellings carved out of the steep slopes of a deep valley with surprising and unusual features called the ‘Gravina’. Elegant and multi-faceted buildings are interspersed with underground mazes and cave labyrinths, forming one single stunning landscape.....
