Matera the underground city

Discover Matera: The Sassi and the Magic of the Capital of Culture

Matera, is an Italian municipality of 60.505 habitants, the capital of the province and the second largest municipality by area in Basilicata, the nineteenth largest in Italy.
It is known by the names ‘Città dei Sassi’ and ‘Città Sotterranea’. The Sassi were recognised in 1993 by UNESCO.
On 17 October 2014, Matera was recognised as European Capital of Culture 2019, the first city in southern Italy to receive this title. In 2002, Mel Gibson's film ‘The Passion of the Christ’ was also filmed. Set in the breathtaking landscape of the Sassi of Matera and the Gravina, the film recounts the last twelve hours of Jesus, from the Garden of Olives to the resurrection with flashbacks to his past life. Numerous films and television series have been filmed in this location.

Matera is also known as the city of the Sassi, precisely because of its historical centerExcavated and built on the edge of the Gravina di Matera, where a deep gorge divides the town into two, the Sassi di Matera, districts that make up the ancient part of the town, lie in two small valleys separated from each other by the rocky spur of the Civita. This position has made the city invisible to the eyes of its enemies for millennia, allowing it to emerge unscathed over the centuries.

‘La Pettolata’ and The Christmas Tradition'

 The Christmas festivity, besides its religious connotations, has its roots in a vast tradition ranging from musical to gastronomic culture. Starting from the Immaculate Conception, in fact, numerous typical dishes were prepared in the homes of the people of Matera. Among them, the most important were and are the pettole, which are prepared by expert hands according to recipes handed down from mother to daughter for centuries.
Flour, water, salt and yeast are the ingredients of a carefully prepared dough, according to an ancient ritua
After the initial preparation, the dough balls are dipped into boiling extra virgin olive oil to fry and then evenly browned. The delicious pettole, on this festivity, will be accompanied by good local wine and animated by various shows.

Saint Eustace

The figure of the saint can be found in Matera, known as the protector of the city of the Sassi. In fact, popular tradition has it that towards the end of the 10th century, the city was invaded by the Saracens and, after many exhausting battles, the figure of Saint Eustace appeared on the walls of Matera. With his army in tow, he frightened the Saracens away, directing them to leave the territory. From that day on, ceremonies are offered to the patron saint of the city of Matera to thank him.