One of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Matera’s Sassi districts—carved into limestone cliffs and honeycombed with cave dwellings—represent an extraordinary palimpsest of human settlement spanning millennia.
At a glance
Matera earned its nickname “City of Stones” and “Underground City” for the Sassi, historic quarters built into natural rock formations. The settlement’s ancient origins, combined with its distinctive architecture, make it one of humanity’s most remarkable urban centers. In 1993, the Sassi became the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern Italy.
History
From 1663 to 1806, Matera served as capital of Basilicata under the Kingdom of Naples. This era brought significant economic, commercial, and cultural expansion to the city.
During World War II, Matera became the first city in southern Italy to actively resist Nazi-fascism, earning it both a Silver Medal for military valor (1966) and a Gold Medal for civil valor (2016). Pope John Paul II visited on April 27, 1991, designating Matera “the city of the Visitation and the Magnificat.” The municipality proclaimed Civitas Mariae on November 21, 1954. In 2014, Matera was selected as European Capital of Culture for 2019, alongside Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
What you see
The Sassi districts showcase dwellings carved directly into limestone bedrock, their entrances often accessible only by steep stone staircases. This organic integration of human habitation with natural geology creates a three-dimensional urban fabric unlike most European cities—a living record of settlement patterns spanning centuries.
Cultural significance
Matera’s recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 acknowledged the Sassi as irreplaceable evidence of human adaptation to environment and of traditional ways of life now largely extinct. The city represents a crucial chapter in understanding Mediterranean urban development and continues to serve as both a cultural resource and working community.
Key facts
- Address: Via Aldo Moro, Matera
- Coordinates: 40.666686943074886, 16.611006259918213
- Official website: http://www.comune.matera.it/
- Phone: 0835 2411
- UNESCO designation: 1993
Practical information
Matera is best explored on foot, though the steep terrain and narrow passages require comfortable walking shoes. Hours of operation and admission fees are available through the official municipal website.
Getting there
Matera is located in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. Regional trains and buses serve the city. Check local transport websites for schedules and fares.
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