![](http://www.alamy.com/thumbs/6/3476E5A1-9A6B-40E0-B683-F70F66252124/DYMC1T.jpg)
Matera,from a of firsthuman settlement in ItalyThe people, 'the sassi' were troglydyte(pre-historic) lived in caves
The town of Matera is famed as the site of the book "Christ stopped at Eboli" by Carlo story is one of a run-down, broken city that typified the lot of southern Italy as it was in those days (the 1930s, - 50s. Interestingly it was one of the first city's that ever rose up against Nazi Germany in the second WW). Now it has been re-juvenated by UNESCO who by 1993 took it under its wings. Once known as the subterranean city, its people were known as 'the Sassi', they followed a group of churches called 'the Rupestrians'. The town lies in a small canyon by the river Gravina. The Sassi created for themselves homes from the calcerous rocks which were caves, often one on top of the other. Today the city is a tourist attraction with many people who either want the experience of cave living (they have been re-discovered and made comfortable), and areas full of bars and eating houses.
Size: 4928px × 3264px
Location: Matera, Basilicata, southern Italy
Photo credit: © Tom Hanley / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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