Italian location of the month - Matera
Matera has been loved by poets and film directors alike, from the writings of Carlo Levi to Pasolini, Rosi, Tornatore, The Taviani brothers and Mel Gibson to name but a few, each commenting on it undisputed standing amongst the best.
This is a truly magical place to visit and to fully appreciate this sacred place we suggest a local guide to take you round and discover its true soul. Here are some simple facts about Matera.
- In 1993 UNESCO listed Matera as one of the 365 official World Heritage List Locations.
- The best time to visit is between the months of May and July and mid September, October.
- With about 155 structures created by monks who dug themselves in and excavated small crypts and tiny rock chapels and even larger churches away in the hills, valleys and ravines around Matera and all this, to get away from the invading armies who were prosecuting them.
- One of these structures is La Cripta del Peccato Originale (the crypt of the Original Sin) which contains one of the most important 10th-century fresco cycles.
- I Sassi, an area where over 15,000 people were still living in 1952. This was their home, windowless grottoes with damp walls where the family and humans slept side by side. This was Italy's scandal and Carlo Levi's book "Cristo si e fermato a Eboli" contributed to the rest of Italy's slow awareness of the poverty which was strife in southern Italy. The infant mortality rate in this area was 50% higher in comparison to the rest of Italy and a typical cave sheltered on average 6 children.
- A typically furnished Sasso can be experienced at Vico Solitario 12, in the Sasso Caveoso district. This will provide you with an authentic impression of the ancient lifestyle of the farmers in the Sassi.
- Beyond the Sassi - Check out the Church of Purgatory in exuberant baroque style with skeletons and skulls on the façade while the interior is richly decorated with paintings.
- Seen as the city of man "La Citta dell'Uomo" therefore the city of the future, Matera is now candidate for the European capital of Culture 2019.
- Do not miss out on the Festa Della Madonna Bruna celebrated on July 2nd. It goes back to 1389 and is religiously very significant and involves everyone in Matera. Ending with the ritual of the straccio where the faithful attack and destroy a professional cart in order to take home a fragment as a trophy. This will guarantee fortune and prosperity. This is then followed by fireworks Italian style.
For more information and where to stay, visit: italian-connection.co.uk