Matera - One of the Worlds Oldest Towns

Matera is truly an amazing site.  The ancient town grew up on one slope of the rocky ravine known locally as "La Gravina".  The original part of Matera is known as "Sassi di Matera" as Sassi means stone in Italian and is the name given to the cave dwellings humans have been living in for over 9,000 years.  This makes Matera the 3rd oldest inhabited town in the world behind Aleppo and Jericho.  These Sassi homes were dug into the soft limestone rock and many are little more than caves.  In the 3rd century BC Romans created a town on the upper reaches of the Gravina Gorge and subsequent conquerors have left there architectural mark over the centuries.  It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and even though its not easy to reach, well worth a visit. 

 Looking across the Gravina gorge at the ancient town of Matera

A closer look at the side of the gorge and you can see thousands of caves perforating the cliffs up towards the town. Up to 11 people lived in a cave with their animals, to help keep them warm.  There were no toilet or water facilities and the mortality rate for children was 50%.  These caves were lived in up to the 1950's when the government was shamed into moving the residents into homes in the new part of town.   

Because of its ancient primeval looking scenery, the old town of Matera has often been used by filmmakers making biblical motion pictures as the ancient setting for Jerusalem

 San Pietro Barisano Church is a perfect example of typical Sassi architecture as the facade is made of tufa but the insiterior has been almost entirely hollowed out from the rock.  The church was built in 1000 but the present facade was completed in 1755 along with the separate Bell Tower.

 The stunning San Pietro Caveoso Church is the only one not built into rock.  Originally built in  1300 it had a Romanesque-baroque facade added in the 17th century






      

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