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Matera
Matera is a city in the south of Italy that is well known for its cave dwellings. Its historical center referred to as the "Sassi" district is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Read more about our visit to Matera Here.
Read more about our visit to Matera Here.
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The Sassi (cave) district of Matera
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The town of Matera is perched on the edge of a deep ravine
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It is divided into a bustling upper district and the quieter lower Sassi district
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The people of Matera used to live in these cave dwellings
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From the 8th - 13th centuries, it is believed that such caves provided refuge for the monks from Eastern Anatolia
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![Peasants took over the caves in the 15th century[Matera - Italy]](/destination/var/thumbs/Italy/Matera/matera_italy0324.jpg?m=1367129609)
Peasants took over the caves in the 15th century[Matera - Italy]
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By the 18th century some of these caves had evolved into fairly grand mansions and convents
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Unfortunately, by the 1950s the Sassi district was overtaken by squalor and poverty
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Inhabitants were then forcibly rehoused
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Today the streets and steps of Sassi lie empty and silent
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Old Town, Matera