Introducing Matera
Matera is surely Italy’s most extraordinary town. A sable- and granite-coloured patchwork of buildings tops two dizzying ravines. Its famous sassi (stone houses carved out of the caves and cliffs) were once the scene of terrible poverty, with overcrowded caves home to livestock and their owners – one of modern Italy’s great scandals. It’s easy to see why Mel Gibson chose this cave-pocked, torn and craggy setting to film The Passion of Christ.
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Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Tips & articles
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Italy’s secret caves: the sassi of Matera
11 August 2011
In the remote southern Italian region of Basilicata is the unique and ancient cave-city of Matera, famous for its sassi...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Best way to travel and experience Naples to Sicily
by neckervd 07 August 2011
How much time did you plan for the visit of the Naples-Sorrento-Amalfi area and how much for Sicily? I ask because there are much more…
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RE: 14 days in Italy
by neckervd 06 August 2011
Skip 5 Terre: everything there is mega crowded and the Amalfi area is a very scenic hiking area too. I would leave Nice in the evening…
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Re: Southern Italy - Pompei-Matera-Polignano a Mare- train reservations
by simulacra444 28 July 2011
I want to find the fastest way to get to Matera. I've heard I can see the Pompeii ruins in about 4 hours. So if I get there at 9, I could…
