Caves were home to the many people long time ago. It is surprising that even with modern technology development some cave towns still remain populated. Incredibly vivid, they show the relationship between man and nature from a different angle. In some places in the world people were lucky and had no need of building classical houses with walls and roofs. Nature have done their job.
Sassi di Matera is a city that hardly will be recommended from travel agencies and is a place worth a visit at least once in a lifetime. That is an old stone destination that is different than any other city in the world.
Image by Stanislav Georgiev via Flickr
Image by Paolo Margari via Flickr
At the south of Italy is located fascinating city which is real discovery for curious travelers, but little known to tourist, named as Sassi di Matera. Although it deserves attention, tourists and travelers from around the world pass almost whole Italy, but Sassi di Matera is regularly skipped. Italians would say that this place is the best kept secret, because of the position and location. Old town Sassi di Matera, also known as the “stones of Matera” is partly hidden in caves on the slopes of the hill and looked unreal, but delights with its originality.
Image by Riccardo Francesconi via Flickr
Image by Maurizio Montanaro via Flickr
Image by Paola Sucato via Flickr
Inside the stone, particularly in carbonate rocks are carved houses, churches, galleries, restaurants and a hotels. In those houses that are actually caves, people live normal life until 50 years. The streets are often found on the roofs of neighboring buildings, making a circular maze through the hill. In 1950 the Italian government forcibly relocated the residents of Sassi di Matera in the suburbs which began to build. But, this is the only place where people can be proud to live in houses that are older more than 9000 years. Since 1993, Sassi di Matera together with Park Murghia Matera is listed on UNESCO to protect the world’s cultural heritage.
Image by BORGHY52 via Flickr
