Matera, known as ¨the underground city¨ for its human dwellings dug deep into the chalky sedimentary rocks typical of the area, is estimated to be around 9,000 years old.
Matera's History
Because of the shocking poverty, poor sanitation and rampant disease that predominated in the Sassi (rock) cave dwellings that housed mostly peasants and farmers, it was evacuated in the 1950s by the government and its 16,000 inhabitants relocated to modern housing in the outskirts.
This neighbourhood of some 1500 dwellings lay abandoned until the ‘80s when the city’s potential was recognized, attracting investments that transformed what was once seen as a squalid environment into one of the most charming and interesting cities in Italy. What was once known from the 1800s as the “shame of Italy”, the Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera garnered a place in UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993, citing it as “the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region, perfectly adapted to its terrain and ecosystem.”
As the upper city grew in the 16th century, water supply became one of its biggest challenges. The construction of a cistern system began with skilled craftsmen and labourers using hand tools to carve out underground spaces, working meticulously to create a network of interconnected chambers. A remarkable feat of engineering, especially considering the tools and technology available at the time, Palombaro Lungo is accessible today from the upper town, La Civita.
The architecture in this area where the more affluent resided, reflects the grandeur and ornamental style typical of the Baroque era, with elaborate facades, decorative details, and stately designs. Descend steep staircases and narrow alleyways, we explore the Sassi and its unique rock-hewn churches and a cave-house museum to understand what it was like to live in such limited confines. Discovering the fascinating rebirth of this enchanting city is certainly well-worth our time!
Puglia
The 800 km. coastline of Puglia, which includes the heel of the boot of Italy, is the longest on the mainland characterized by both steep cliffs and golden-sand beaches. Having been under the Ancient Greeks and the Romans, the Byzantine and the Normans, Swabians and Angevins, traces of that rich heritage from diverse cultures can be seen throughout the land, from medieval castles, Baroque and Romanesque churches, noble palaces, and historical residences.
Puglia is a region where one can spend days traveling the countryside visiting beautiful little towns. We can go by the sea to Trani with its beautiful Romanesque cathedral and Swabian castle or visit Castel del Monte, the unique octagonal-shaped 13th-century castle situated on a hill in Andria used as a hunting lodge then a prison.
Alborobello, Lecce and Ostuni
There’s Alberobello with its famous trulli, stonehouses with conical roofs; Martina Franca with its typical baroque palaces and churches; Locorotondo, the circular town on top of a hill with its white-washed houses; the Baroque architecture of Puglia’s capital, Lecce; and the many alleyways of “the white city”, Ostuni.
A fertile land and delicious food
Puglia is also an agricultural region with plenty of sun, fertile soil, and a flat landscape ideal for growing vegetables. It produces 23% of the olive oil in Europe which locals love to apply liberally to all their dishes. For Puglian gastronomical delights, we can stop in Ceglie Messapica or visit the picturesque seaside town of Polignano a Mare to indulge in some seafood.