In the city of Matera, a rocky outcrop in the region of Basilicata, in southern Italy

 Once 'the shame of Italy, this town is now a must-see destination.

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(in the southern region of Basilicata, Italy) The town of Matera is located one hour’s drive from Bari and three hours away from Naples. Its central location makes it a worthy stop as you cross Basilicata into Puglia, or head toward Calabria.

+ With a population of some 60,000, Matera has been around for centuries, and continues to impress with its culture and charm. Its breathtaking location in a ravine enables views of the steep Lucanian gorge and the Mediterranean Sea, which are comparable to those found on a mountaintop palace. From the Castello Tramontano at the bottom of the "Sassi" district, or from the acropolis at the center housing the Cathedral, visitors can slowly take in the majestic sights. The magnificent scenery here features a magical canyon created along the Gravina’s shore, accompanied by verdant hills that divide it from the Murgia plain. Not only are its views captivating but its history spans centuries. Whether you are exploring its unique rock-cut urban core, known as Sassi, or making memories of its culture, this destination will expose you to a remarkable experience that may never be forgotten.

+ A city of ancient origins and stunning beauty, Matera is famous for its Sassi, the cave dwellings that have been inhabited for thousands of years and are now a UNESCO world heritage site. You can explore the Sassi and discover the history, culture, and art of this unique place.. You can also visit the impressive cathedral of Santa Maria Della Bruna, the Casa Grotta, a typical cave house, and the Palombaro Lungo, a huge underground cistern. Matera is also home to more than 100 churches, some of them carved into the rock, that showcase the religious heritage of the city. With a history of continuous occupation dating back to the 10th millennium BCE, it is renowned for its rock-cut urban core, whose twin cliffside zones are known collectively as the Sassi.

+ By the end of the 18th century, a physical class boundary separated the overcrowded Sassi of the peasants from the new spatial order of their social superiors in the Piano, and geographical elevation came to coincide with status more overtly than before, to the point where the two communities no longer interacted socially.

+ Yet it was only at the turn of the 20th century that the Sassi were declared unfit for modern habitation, and the government relocation of all their inhabitants to new housing in the Piano followed between 1952 and the 1970s.The recognition of the Sassi, labelled la città sotterranea ("the underground city"), together with the rupestrian churches across the Gravina as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1993 has assisted in attracting tourism and accelerated the reclaiming of the site. (In 2019, Matera was declared a European Capital of Culture.)

+Today there are many thriving businesses, pubs, and hotels here, and the city is among the fastest growing in southern Italy.