Matera

Matera is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, settled for more than nine thousand years. Its Sassi — neighbourhoods carved directly from the limestone rock — were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and earned the title of European Capital of Culture in 2019. Walking through the alleyways of Caveoso and Barisano means crossing layers of civilisation that overlap like the pages of an endless book. The frescoed cave churches, the historic quarters overlooking the Gravina canyon, and the golden light that wraps the city at sunset make Matera an experience that transcends time — an unmissable destination on any journey through southern Italy.