Basilicata
sometimes called by its historic name Lucania, is a region in Italy's far south. It is an interesting and varied region, with some dramatic scenery. Basilicata covers a large area above the instep of Italy's boot, with two short stretches of coastline; one on the Ionian Sea (the instep) and the other on the western, Tyrrhenian shore. It shares borders with the other Italian regions of Calabria, Puglia and Campania. Basilicata is sparsely populated and is divided into just two provinces, the Provincia di Potenza and the Provincia di Matera. Potenza is the regional capital. Although it is still not a major tourist destination, Basilicata does contain two particularly fine spots which attract travellers: Matera and Maratea. These two towns are among Italy's best destinations: fascinating, picturesque, suitably provided with good hotels and restaurants yet not overrun by visitors. Matera is famous for its atmospheric cave-dwelling districts, abandoned in the 1950s and slowly being brought back to life. Maratea is on the region's west coast, and is a lovely little town high between the mountains and the sea. Much of the region is mountainous and bare due to deforestation, dotted with ravines, hilltowns and castles. Other interesting sights of Basilicata include caves decorated by Byzantine monks, and the ruins of Greek civilisation. Activites include swimming and diving, walking, cycling and horse-riding and even ski-ing in winter.
Matera
Unesco World Heritage Site
In the remote southern region of Basilicata (also called Lucania), still little-visited by foreign travellers, it is a town famous for its extensive cave-dwelling districts, the sassi. Curious visitors can stay in caves, wander the lanes alongside the picturesque cave-filled cliffs, and learn the history of this fascinating place. The caves of Matera had been inhabited for centuries; some humble and some smarter residences, but by the early twentieth-century the area was a by-word for poverty. Until the 1950s hundreds of families were still living crowded into cave-houses here. The squalor and malaria-ridden conditions became a national scandal and finally the cave residents were moved - by law - to modern buildings on the plateau above. By the 1980s the abandoned caves of Matera were no longer scandalous, but fascinating reminders of the past. A few rather more well-to-do residents moved back and renovated old cave houses. In 1993 the town was made a UNESCO World Heritage site, for being "the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region, perfectly adapted to its terrain and ecosystem". And ever since, Matera has become steadily more popular as an off-the-beaten-track tourist destination. More and more old cave-houses are being converted into comfortable modern dwellings, into hotels, B&Bs and restaurants. You can take guided tours of the sassi and visit historic reconstructions of cave life. Matera was the one of the filming locations for Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ, with shots showing the sassi and the gorge below. Source: www.italyheaven.co.uk
sometimes called by its historic name Lucania, is a region in Italy's far south. It is an interesting and varied region, with some dramatic scenery. Basilicata covers a large area above the instep of Italy's boot, with two short stretches of coastline; one on the Ionian Sea (the instep) and the other on the western, Tyrrhenian shore. It shares borders with the other Italian regions of Calabria, Puglia and Campania. Basilicata is sparsely populated and is divided into just two provinces, the Provincia di Potenza and the Provincia di Matera. Potenza is the regional capital. Although it is still not a major tourist destination, Basilicata does contain two particularly fine spots which attract travellers: Matera and Maratea. These two towns are among Italy's best destinations: fascinating, picturesque, suitably provided with good hotels and restaurants yet not overrun by visitors. Matera is famous for its atmospheric cave-dwelling districts, abandoned in the 1950s and slowly being brought back to life. Maratea is on the region's west coast, and is a lovely little town high between the mountains and the sea. Much of the region is mountainous and bare due to deforestation, dotted with ravines, hilltowns and castles. Other interesting sights of Basilicata include caves decorated by Byzantine monks, and the ruins of Greek civilisation. Activites include swimming and diving, walking, cycling and horse-riding and even ski-ing in winter.
Matera
Unesco World Heritage Site
In the remote southern region of Basilicata (also called Lucania), still little-visited by foreign travellers, it is a town famous for its extensive cave-dwelling districts, the sassi. Curious visitors can stay in caves, wander the lanes alongside the picturesque cave-filled cliffs, and learn the history of this fascinating place. The caves of Matera had been inhabited for centuries; some humble and some smarter residences, but by the early twentieth-century the area was a by-word for poverty. Until the 1950s hundreds of families were still living crowded into cave-houses here. The squalor and malaria-ridden conditions became a national scandal and finally the cave residents were moved - by law - to modern buildings on the plateau above. By the 1980s the abandoned caves of Matera were no longer scandalous, but fascinating reminders of the past. A few rather more well-to-do residents moved back and renovated old cave houses. In 1993 the town was made a UNESCO World Heritage site, for being "the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region, perfectly adapted to its terrain and ecosystem". And ever since, Matera has become steadily more popular as an off-the-beaten-track tourist destination. More and more old cave-houses are being converted into comfortable modern dwellings, into hotels, B&Bs and restaurants. You can take guided tours of the sassi and visit historic reconstructions of cave life. Matera was the one of the filming locations for Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ, with shots showing the sassi and the gorge below. Source: www.italyheaven.co.uk