Travel Guide to Matera Caves in Italy

Scenic spot introduction:

Matera is located in the Basilicata region in southern Italy. The limestone clay layer in the area is 350 to 400 meters thick. Due to changes in the earth's crust, a deep canyon and two naturally formed depressions have been formed. Local residents have begun to dig habitable caves on the slopes between the plateau and the depressions since the Paleolithic Age, gradually developing it into an agricultural and animal husbandry center. In 1993, the Matera Cave Dwellings were listed as a cultural heritage on the World Heritage List.

Attractions distribution:

The soil of Matera is soft. People have dug caves and built houses with large stones since the Stone Age. Such housing areas are called Sassi, which is the oldest part of Matera. The Middle Ages was the Dark Ages in Europe. Monks from nearby towns fled to the mountainous area of Matera to avoid invading foreign enemies. They built more than 100 cave churches and more cave dwellings here, forming a paradise in the hidden mountain area.
In 1952, the authorities moved all the residents of the more than 20,000 stone houses to the new town; half a century later, in order to develop tourism, the authorities moved 500 families back to the stone house area where the infrastructure had been completed, and set up hotels, restaurants, boutiques and handicraft studios there. The stone house area is no longer dirty and messy as it was in the past, and there are no serious security problems; tourists can travel comfortably and safely in this fascinating old town.
The ancient atmosphere of Matera has attracted many film masters to come here to shoot. The most famous one is "The Passion of the Christ" directed by the great director Mel Gibson. After the performance of "The Passion of the Christ", Matera was nicknamed "The Place where Christ Passed".

Scenic spot features:

Ancient city, residential areas