Matera, Basilicata – Southern Italy

MATERA! Located in Basilicata in southern Italy, Matera has been designated the 2019 European Capital of Culture. The city is most well known for its Sassi, the caves in the cliffside that were homes to people until 1952 when the government forced people to move out of the caves and into the town.

Mr. Slice and I have been several times when we lived in nearby Martina France, Puglia. We once spoke with a woman whose family stayed in the caves well into the 1970s. Into her late 80s now, she admitted she missed the caves and was still not used to living in the town.

Materia is unlike any other place I've been. Because of its uniqueness, it is often the set of movies. Twice on visits to Matera we've caught the filming of two difference major motion pictures. The town and caves are apparently a good substitute for Biblical locations stories.

Oh and obviously I found some great places to eat and drink ;)

Contact me to plan your trip to southern Italy and your stop in Matera.