Matera, European Capital of Culture 2019
The place to go to Italy this year
Matera is a very difficult place to describe as well as being difficult to photograph. It has unique features that are not found anywhere else in the world. As author Licia Troisi once said, “You need to go there”
Sassi of Matera
I highly recommend that you spend a weekend in this beautiful place if you can. It’s one of the most unique places to visit in Italy, and this is probably the best year to do it. Matera has been named a “Capital of Culture” for 2019 by the European Union for its artistic heritage and beauty of the Sassi di Matera (the other city to receive the honor this year is Plovdiv, Bulgaria). This also means that Matera has received funding from both the EU and the Italian government to host cultural events in the city throughout the year.
Salvador Dalì installation in Matera
The “Sassi di Matera” are cave-like dwellings carved into the tufa rock and have been inhabited since prehistoric times. In 1993 the Città dei Sassi (literally “City of Stones”) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together with the Civita district, they constitute the historic center of the city. Walking in the city center, you will find some balconies from which you can admire the panorama of the Sassi, and they are truly a sight to behold.
Belvedere of Murgia Timone - Matera
As I’ve said, pictures and words do not do it justice, and 2019 is definitely the year to pay Matera a visit!
