Matera is a small town in 150 km from Brindisi in Basilicata region. Matera is listed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1993. It's became worldwide famouse because of old house-caves carved directly into the rocks. These rock structures are called the Sassi (Stones). The oldest of them is about 7000 years old. In a new caves, there are churches some of them were buit in the sixth century AD. There are very old frescos in some churches that are painted in XI-XII centuries Ad. A lot of famous movies were filmed there, and one of them a very famous Mel Gibson's movie "Passion of the Christ".
There are 1950 house-caves that were people's homes at that time. You will not believe it, but around 15,000 people had lived there. It was almost a half of the population of the city! They had no sewerage, and rain water was collected in a big stone tank to supply their needs.
Now, there are two parts in Matera: modern upper town and historical down town which is called Sassi. Going down to the old city, it seems like you are going to a different world. Beautiful view of the low town:
This is a view of the most ancient rock caves in the down town. They abandoned long time ago.
This how the house-caves look.
This house is a museum. House partially is in the rock, partially built outside it. 11 person family had lived in this small space: two adults and 9 children, with all home scarp. Animals had lived in the same room in the corner.
Kitchen:
Probably, you are wondering... where did they all sleep? Adults with one or two smallest kids slept in a bed.
At night, the bottom drawer dresser and food storage chests were turned into beds.
This is a bed for a little baby.
And this is a model of Matera
Story by Katrin (Katrinshine)
Translated by Irina (IrinaPhotography)
3 comments:
What a great post! I have never been there so thank you so much for this opportunity to know more about one of the most interesting places on Earth,
Fascinating, I want to go!
Very interesting. You must get a lot of inspiration living in such a historic place.
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