We have been in Italy for just a few days over two months now. There have been many great days and we have seen beauty and grandeur that makes you sit back and just stare. A visit to Matera is to go to a place that you never knew existed and to see a way of life that is so different from anything you are familiar with. This is a place where people have lived in literally cut out of stone caves made into a type of home for 2000 up until the mid 1950’s. You stand there and go Huh!?? Are you kidding me?
During the 1950’s the “sasso” dwellings were forcibly closed by the Italian government and the people moved into modern housing in the higher, newer town. Modern redevelopment of a good portion of these dwellings has occurred and you can now visit, shop, eat, and stay there. It truly is a unique experience. Our “hotel” was very comfortable but also really different. The company that has developed it has made a concerted effort to make the dwelling as realistic as possible without destroying what is there. This is not a widescreen, plush carpet kind of place. We thought it was a wonderful experience and certainly are very glad to have had the chance to stay there.
The Hotel website: http://www.sextantio.it/grotte-civita/?lang=en
UNESCO website: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/670
Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassi_di_Matera
A short one hour drive from Lecce to Matera.
The stairway to our “room”.
The entry way into the bedroom.
Master bedroom
Bathing room with fireplace!
The living room look back toward the front door.
We went out the first night after we settled in and were greeted with this panorama. We are definitely NOT in Kansas!
It was pretty quiet in town and the wind was on the cool side.
Lighted bell tower. Because hearing them is just not enough.
I couldn’t pass up the nice grapevine shadows on the wall.
The church is carved out of the outcrop. No air conditioning needed.
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Old peasant carts at a small museum in town.
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Daylight give a different, but none the less awe inspiring view of the settlement.
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A little slice of life.
Three wheel pizza delivery.
The area has a relatively flat to slightly rolling surface. The downward erosion of the rivers exposed the soft rock into which the caves were cut.
This is the interior of one of the last caves inhabited until 1956. The couple raised 9 sons in this dwelling.
And the mule had his own place!!
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Breakfast room detail in the hotel.
I found a few caves that were boarded up but had an access hole I could stick my camera and arm into. A lot of work went into making the hotel habitable again.
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