Matera (Italy) - the most detailed information about the city with a photo and a map. The main attractions of Matera with a description in the guide for tourists.
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| Matera Italy |
City of Matera (Italy)
Matera is a city in southern Italy in the Basilicata region. This is one of the most unusual and interesting places in the country, as well as one of the oldest settlements in Europe, with a history of seven thousand years. Matera has a magnificent old town with a virtually untouched historical core, and a whole area of ancient cave houses, included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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| Matera Italy |
Geography and Climate
The city is located in the eastern part of the Basilicata region at an altitude of 401 meters above sea level. Matera borders the southwestern part of the province of Bari and has a hot subtropical climate.
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| Matera Italy |
History
Historians consider Matera to be one of the oldest permanent settlements in the world. Its history spans from 7 to 10 thousand years. The modern city was founded by the Romans in the 3rd century BC. After the collapse of the Roman Empire (in the 7th century AD), the city was conquered by the Lombards and became part of the Duchy of Benevento.
In the 7th - 8th centuries, the nearby grottoes were inhabited by monks, mostly of the Benedictine order. In the 9th and 10th centuries, Matera suffered several sieges from the Saracens and the Byzantines. In the first half of the 11th century, the city became part of the Norman possessions. In the 15th century, Matera became an Aragonese possession and was transferred to the ownership of the Tramontano barons.
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| Matera Italy |
In the 17th century, Matera was transferred to the county of Orsini and actually became part of Apulia. Later, the city was chosen as the capital of the province of Basilicata, maintaining this status until 1806.
How to get there
Matera is easily accessible by train from Bari. There is also a direct bus connection to the airport of the capital of Apulia.