Matera,one of the oldest civilisations of Italy, they lived like trogladytes in one authenicated for comfort.


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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