Matera is renowned as one of the oldest existing cities in the world. It is located in a small canyon in the region of Basilicata in southern Italy. It is southwest of Puglia and while you are on a holiday in Italy, it is certainly worth the effort to visit Matera and check the place out.
Many people planning for a holiday in Italy include Matera on the itinerary, due to their interest in the Sassi di Matera, which translates to ‘the rocks of Matera’ and refers to the cliff dwellings centred around a steep ravine called La Gravina. Believed to have been settled since the Palaeolithic Age, the city is now an emerging tourist destination, centring on these Sassi or the rocks. These amazing caves are used as houses, spas, hotels, churches and even palazzi.
When you visit Matera, you can go for a guided tour and see a cave-house reconstruction and get a feel of how the families who lived there in the past went about their everyday lives. Better yet, play troglodyte and stay in a cave-hotel or inn for a night or two and try the simple, yet flavourful cuisine for a truly authentic experience.Take some time to see the chiese rupestri (churches) hewn out of the rocks within the caves and marvel at some of the ancient frescoes created by monks from the Byzantine era. One of the must-see churches, the San Pietro Caveoso, actually isn’t in a cave, but is built on a rock above the Sassi.
Other places to visit are the Museo Nazionale Ridola, the Museo Nazionale d’Arte Medievale e Moderna della Regione Basilicata and the Museo della Scultura Contemporanea Matera), which exhibits sculpture from the 19th century onwards. Matera is definitely a must visit from the rock hewn past of Italy – and a great place to visit when you are holidaying in Italy. It is a good idea to hire a car to take you to Matera while you are holidaying in Italy.Car rental Italy provides cars on hire at economical prices.
Car rental services Italy have some exclusive offers for tourists who intend to go around and explore the place to the core. www.car-rental-italy.com is the best option if you are planning for economy rental. They have on offer a wide variety of cars to cater to your individual needs from 2 door economy cars (seats 4) to 9 seat Minivans, automatic transmission cars and much more to give you hassle free commuting options while you explore the place.