Hello, my friends. We continued our journey in southern Italy and after leaving Bari, we traveled to the legendary city of Matera. Here, it's impossible to ignore the countless cathedrals (over 130) that line the city, from grand basilicas to small rock and cave churches, there are many to explore.
We visited some very unique cave dwellings in the Sassi di Matera area. The Sassi is divided into two sections: Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano. This place is ancient, with some caves dating back to incredibly early periods in human history. It's believed that the Sassi is one of the oldest human settlements in Italy. People lived, cooked and went about their lives in these caves. The area has been recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site, highlighting its significance and uniqueness. Visiting here felt like traveling back in time, seeing these amazing places from a bygone era was incredibly fascinating.
There was a cave directly in the rocks. A long cave where people used to live. How did they survive without heating, electricity, or washing machines? How did they manage without the internet? It's hard to imagine. And they didn't even know they needed to travel to other cities, they had no plans for that.
By chance, we stumbled upon a museum located in an old monastery. Now, a man lives there with his family. He invited us for a tour and of course, we accepted, it was very interesting, though the only problem was that he didn't allow us to take many photos. The bed was almost at shoulder height; it must have been like that to keep it warm. There were no tickets; he just said, Give what you can. He gave us a postcard as a souvenir.
There were rocky pathways that allowed us to move from one place to another. It felt like we were in a long tunnel, with each turn leading to a different spot. It's such an interesting town and it was designated as the European Capital of Culture in 2019.
The churches carved into the rocks were incredible. One of them was the Church of Saint Mary of Idris. The church is located at the top of a hill, giving us a beautiful view of the city and the valleys below. The Church of Saint Mary of Idris is an old church, built in the 15th century. It's carved into the rocks, but unfortunately, taking photos inside was prohibited.
We visited Piazza San Pietro and the famous church there, Chiesa di San Pietro e Paolo. The square was quite lively, offering us a fantastic view of the other side of the Sassi. While enjoying the beautiful views of Matera, we sat at a restaurant in the square and had a drink and a light snack.
We saw the Cattedrale della Madonna della Bruna e di Sant'Eustachio. This cathedral is known for its historical and architectural features due to its age. The exterior resembles the Roman era, while the interior is ornately decorated in a Baroque style. It has a tall, slender bell tower.
In Matera, there's a street called via Riscatto. The street got its name from when people in ancient times revolted against an evil count and defeated him. Count Tramontano was very greedy, imposing high taxes on people, which made them so angry that they rebelled. They defeated him in the shadow of an unfinished castle and named the street via Riscatto, meaning Redemption Street.
There was a balcony with a lovely view. The bricks were made from very old stones, with remnants of seashells embedded in them, very charming.
We spent half a day wandering through this rocky area and saw many interesting things. It was a delightful experience. Matera is definitely worth visiting. I've never seen another city quite like it. Many curious tourists flock here to witness the unique atmosphere. Even if you have just a few hours, you should definitely visit Matera, you won't regret it.
