The Sassi of Matera, the Lucanian Dolomites and the Maratea Coast
Your walk will begin with a visit to the city of Matera; then, head towards the Rock Church Park, and on to discover prehistoric caves, Neolithic villages and frescoed churches and houses built into the rock. The last stop will take you to the Tyrrhenian coast where you can enjoy the dominating scenic views from Maratea. The uncontaminated nature, intense light and panoramas will leave you with enchanting memories of Basilicata, to be explored on foot.
The Sassi of Matera
For the first time traveller to Matera, the discovery of a town so unusual and old is a breathtaking experience.
One of the most fascinating historic centres in Italy, is within the city of Matera. One could describe the ancient district of Matera, the Sassi, as one gigantic sculpture that has been carved out of the rock along the side of a ravine. In essence, it is an urban miracle, where it is possible to discern many different signs of the rich, long history this city has witnessed over the course of many centuries.
The Matera hills
La collina materana è una terra fertile tra le valli del Bradano e del Basento, protetta a sud-est dai venti caldi del mare e a nord-ovest dai picchi rocciosi e dai rigogliosi boschi della montagna. Ogni piccolo borgo è pieno di storia e di sorprese: Miglionico, con il Castello del Malconsiglio e il Polittico di Cima da Conegliano, Montescaglioso, con la splendida Abbazia Benedettina, Grottole e Grassano, sull antica Via Appia, Irsina, che conserva alcune opere del Mantegna, e poi Tursi, con la Rabatana e il Santuario medievale di Anglona.
The Rock Church Park
Excursions in the Matera Rock Church Park are particularly charming and promise to reveal many natural and unexpected historical treasures.
Here you’ll find crude and barren rocks with low-lying vegetation and scrub; deep and winding ravines that swallow-up those who venture into them; over 150 rock cliff churches that give testimony to the diffusion of religion in the countryside; numerous settlements dating back from the Palaeolithic (e.g the “Grotta dei Pipistrelli” or “Cave of Bats”)Diana Bellavista and the Neolithic eras, with village ruins and artefacts (like the ceramics of Diana Bellavista and Serra d’Alto); and finally all the impressions left by a civilization which had to cope with a land that was uncongenial to human survival: DSCF0135_ritoccatathe ways in which the limestone rock was used shows the passage from novel and rupestrian ways to constructed structures such as the fortified farms.
The park covers an area of more than 8,000 hectares from the towns of Matera to Montescaglioso.
The Lucanian Dolomites of Basilicata
The greater part of the Basilicata territory is covered by mountains, with areas often difficult to reach that have conserved an almost wild character, where the presence of humans is marginal and one can immerse one-self in undisturbed nature.Tranquillity, fresh air, extensive forests and immense meadows, make the Lucano mountains an ideal place for those passionate about trekking, mountain-biking, horse-back riding, rock-climbing and bird-watching.
The sea and Magna Grecia
This small region is bordered by two seas: to the southwest is the Tyrrhenian, with the rocky coast of Maratea, splendid pearl surrounded by mountains and nature; to the southeast is the Ionian, with long sandy beaches stretching for 30 km, from Metaponto to Nova Siri. This coastline borders a fertile plain, rich in fruit groves and archaeological digs from the periods of Greek colonization.