Italy > Basilicata > Matera
Matera
N 40°40', E 16°36.662'
2019-04-20
Our rating: 7.60
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Matera is far from the major tourist trails in Italy and therefore not as popular and famous as other places, despite its importance.
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
We made a big mistake by stopping here for only one night. The old city is simply huge and we did not have time to see even half of the interesting places.
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
There are almost no hotels with parking in the old city, the closest we found is Hotel San Domenico Al Piano (booking.com ). The old city is very unusual, both for Italy and, in general, for Europe. It looks more like the cities of the Middle East, compare, this is Matera
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
and this is Amman, the capital of Jordan
Amman, Jordan ©Yuriy Buriak
The symbol of the city are the caves of sassi, which can be found throughout the old city. They became world famous in the 1950s, when it turned out that 15 thousand people still live in caves. The government forcibly resettled them in modern residential quarters and walled up the entrances to the caves. In 1993, Sassi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, some can be visited.
Caves (sassi) in Matera ©@
The caves were in Matera much earlier, on the other side of the canyon are visible much older ones, prehistoric dwellings of troglodytes. It is believed that these are the first human houses in the territory of modern Italy.
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
But Matera is unique not only because of the sassi. The city tightly intertwined different epochs, n ear the millennial caves stands the cathedral of 1268-1270, surrounded by medieval streets, and further there are modern residential quarters.
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
One of the most picturesque places of the city is the square with the church of San Pietro Caveoso (1218).
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Above the square is the even more interesting rock church of Saint Mary of Idris.
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
In general, in the city there are more than a hundred churches.
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
As you already understood, the old city is car free.
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
We also crossed to the other side of the canyon, which offers the best view of the sassi. You can come here on foot, by crossing the canyon, by car (N 40 39.839 E 16 37.062 ) or by bus (Linea Speciale Cava del Sole. Parco delle Chiese Rupestri) from Piazza Giacomo Matteotti.
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Here you can wander for hours, see millennial caves and the remains of ancient settlements.
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Matera ©Yuriy Buriak
Matera map ©@
Matera map ©@
Matera is a filming location for more than a hundred movies, including blockbusters such as The Passion of Christ (2004)
The Passion of Christ (2004) in Matera ©Newmarket Films
The Passion of Christ (2004) in Matera ©Newmarket Films
The Passion of Christ (2004) in Matera ©Newmarket Films
and Wonder Woman (2017).
Wonder Woman (2017) in Matera ©Warner Bros. Pictures
Wonder Woman (2017) in Matera ©Warner Bros. Pictures
Wonder Woman (2017) in Matera ©Warner Bros. Pictures
Wonder Woman (2017) in Matera ©Warner Bros. Pictures
But the main promotion of the city will be made by the not yet released blockbuster "No Time to Die" (2020). Judging by the trailer, the film has a cool chase scene in Matera.
James Bond in Matera ©Universal Pictures
James Bond in Matera ©Universal Pictures
James Bond in Matera ©Universal Pictures
Getting there: Covered parking N 40 39.747 E 16 36.475 . From Bari there is a train Ferrovie Appulo Lucane with the final stop in Matera (https://ferrovieappulolucane.it/en/ ). There is Flixbus from Bitonto, where there is a train station (https://global.flixbus.com/bus/matera ). Also there are many buses from Bari and Naples.
Tags, Italy: antique city , city Tags, all countries: antique city , city
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 7.60
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help