Matera, Cave dwellings in Basilicata, Italy
Matera is a city in the Basilicata region of southern Italy known for its cave dwellings carved into rock. The settlement spreads across terraced limestone cliffs at the edge of a ravine, with houses and churches built directly into natural caves and stone walls.
The cave settlement was continuously inhabited for thousands of years until the government relocated residents in the 1950s due to unsanitary conditions. Restoration and repopulation of the abandoned districts began in the 1980s.
Local bakers sell traditional Matera bread baked in wood ovens that stays fresh for up to two weeks. Many former caves have been converted into restaurants and guesthouses where visitors can experience the historic architecture firsthand.
The old town sits on high ground and requires a lot of walking up steep stairs and uneven stone pathways. Comfortable shoes are necessary as the streets can become slippery, especially after rain.
Over 150 rock churches sit within the cave districts, some with well preserved medieval frescoes. The water collection systems of carved cisterns and channels once supplied thousands of residents without external sources.
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