Walked into the city today and straight into the Sassi - Sherry confirms from her research that indeed the Sassi dates back to prehistoric times, 7000BC no less, so that means this area has been inhabited for at least 9000 years making it one of the oldest inhabited places in the world.
There is a tourist route around and through the Sassi, two Sassi areas in fact - Sassi Barisano and Sassi Caveoso, and there are numerous viewing areas giving superb views
It is one of those places where you need to see it rather than read what others have written as it is really indescribable.
Some of the main points of interest were the churches built into the caves but unfortunately taking photos within them was prohibited apart from Chiesa Rupestre Di San Giuliano which is built under a more modern (in relative terms) church or more correctly said has another church built on top of it. It is a smallish area but there are several well preserved frescos
Located on a spur rising from the Sassi Caveoso is Santa Maria de Idris which provides one of the most recognisable photos of the Sassi of Matera
There was a dwelling that could be visited which showed living conditions in a cave dwelling
Clearly the residents of the day were not ones with a throw away mentality because if a plate, for example, was broken it was repaired by a craftsman who using a rudimentary drill made holes in broken pieces and using iron wire stitched them together before applying a layer of cement to make it functional
A repaired plate
After a meal we strolled around “downtown” Matera, firstly visiting Palombaro Lungo which is a man made excavation dating back to the 16th century and a 5 million litre water cistern that serviced the Sassi
Matera’s Sassi areas are must sees if visiting southern Italy
Kms driven to date 4863
Kms walked to date 633.3
Spent on Diesel €309.25
Highest price paid to date for diesel €1.839/L Bari
Lowest price paid to date for diesel €1.479/L Freiburg
Spent on tolls €81.10
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