SASSI of MATERA
World Heritage Site
Matera captivates and engages visitors with its uniqueness; it is a place often described as magnetic, capable of astonishing people and evoking unforgettable emotions. It is considered a Mediterranean capital of rock-hewn architecture and one of the few places in the world where one can witness the tangible legacy of a civilization that lived in rock dwellings.
In 1993, UNESCO designated the *Sassi di Matera* and part of the *Parco della Murgia Materana* as a World Heritage Site due to their exceptional cultural value—making it the first UNESCO site in Southern Italy.
The *Sassi di Matera* feature a mix of prehistoric cave dwellings, rock-cut and subterranean churches, noble palazzos, arches, and walkways that are unique in style and setting. It is a concentrated blend of history and art, comprising urban spaces carved directly into the tufa rock.
On October 17, 2014, Matera was named the European Capital of Culture for 2019.
Visitors often feel as though they have stepped into a landscape from another era; it is no coincidence that great masters of cinema have chosen this evocative setting for their films.
Matera lies at the heart of an extraordinary rock landscape that preserves a rich heritage of culture and tradition, and it hosts prestigious exhibitions of both national and international renown.
It is a city with a fascinating and complex history—a place of borders and contrasts, where diverse landscapes, civilizations, and cultures have competed and merged. From the rock-dwelling civilization that evolved from prehistory through the early Middle Ages—marked by the advent of Byzantine and Eastern cultural influences—to the arrival of the Normans and the subsequent systematic attempt to align the rock city with the norms of European urban culture (spanning the Romanesque, Renaissance, and Baroque periods), the last eight centuries of urban development have sought to shape and overcome the natural constraints of the pre-existing rock habitat, resulting in architecture and urban layouts of exceptional quality and originality.
Today, Matera offers visitors the fascinating experience of tracing a unique cultural evolution—a journey defined by traces and masterpieces, by significant landmarks and modest details, ranging from the seemingly humble to the highly sophisticated—that encapsulates the city’s long and compelling history.
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