Visit Matera: the unique charm of European Capital of Culture 2019

Visit Matera is the guide to discover the beautiful town of Matera in history and religion. Famous for its rocks and for its breathtaking landscapes, Matera, on the border between Basilicata and Puglia, UNESCO is one of the most visited destinations in Italy.

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Visit Matera: history, art and culture

Matera It is one of the most interesting tourist destinations, unusual and memorable in Italy. Famous for its stones, Matera is made up of a network of caves inhabited since the Paleolithic and offers visitors the chance to stay in the rocks, stroll through narrow streets or along the picturesque cliffs that tell the story of this fascinating city of Basilicata.

UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993 to be “the most outstanding example of intact and a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region, perfectly adapted to its terrain and ecosystem”, Matera has become increasingly tourist destination off-road. More and more old cave dwellings were transformed into comfortable modern dwellings, in hotels, B&B and restaurants ready to offer travelers real travel experiences.

What to see in Matera

The stones

It can be difficult to navigate in Matera. The golf balls are the first thing you think to organize a weekend in Basilicata. The oldest sections of the city are in fact composed of two Sassi – Barisano and Caveoso Sassi Sassi – and the best way to find out is either on foot.
Barisano Sassi has undergone a remarkable development, with old caves beautifully restored to create stunning art spaces, boutique hotels and traditional restaurants.

Caveoso Sassi instead offers a fascinating perspective of life lived, and largely untouched, 50s.

Matera: European Capital of Culture 2019

Matera is also a city of hidden treasures, museums, festival, concerts, multimedia courses that have made it the European Capital of Culture for 2019. The main city's historical museum, Ridola National Museum, It contains relics of past ages of the past of Basilicata, from prehistoric to Roman times (closed on Monday morning, a small entrance fee). Nearby, Palazzo Lanfranchi houses the National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata Region – an art museum that incorporates the Pinacoteca D'Errico , which he has many religious paintings of painters and South, more interesting, The Centro Carlo Levi , which contains a range of paintings by the artist and writer of the twentieth century which is part of the modern history of this region.

Visit Matera: the best time

One of the most important things to consider when planning a trip to Matera is the timing. Some churches and attractions are open only on weekends, especially in winter, and some require an advance reservation. Traveling on Sunday or on a holiday is to be avoided unless you have a car – There are no trains in those days and the buses are limited services. The best time to visit Matera are between seasons: Autumn and Spring. In summer, in fact the city is very hot and crowded with tourists coming from everywhere.

If you want to live a breathtaking experience, the ideal would be to visit it at night: the city will be your own private open-air museum and the moon lights will make it even more beautiful and charming.