Mid vacation David and I took a drive to Matera. It is about 40 minutes away from Marina di Ginosa in the Basilicata region, and where The Passion of the Christ was filmed. We watched the movie the week before we left because I had never seen it before. Matera is famous for its Sassi (stones), the oldest part of the city and has been named one of the most magnificent places in the world to visit (UNESCO patrimony). The Sassi is all white stone buildings, and like Ginosa has been inhabited since the Paleolithic times. Composed of many small alleys, stairs and small squares, it feels a little like walking through a white labyrinth. It is a spectacular sight to stand above the Sassi with a 180 degree view of the whole area including the gravina (ravine). We walked around the Sassi for a few hours, trying to stay in the shadows since it was over 100F. It is one of the most amazing cities we have visited so far!
After walking the Sassi we stopped at the Tramontano castle perched above the city. Unfortunately it was closed, and the fence around it made it possible to only see from one side.
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| Palazzo Lanfranchi |
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| Museo Ridola |
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| Chiesa Purgatorio |
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| Above the door of Chiesa Purgatorio, the facade is covered in skeletons and skulls |
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| I Sassi |
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| I Sassi |
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| I Sassi |
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| I Sassi |
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| Chiesa S. Francesco D'Assisi |
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| Main street through the Sassi |
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| Chiesa di S. Pietro Caveoso |
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| Caves across the gravina |
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| Chiesa M. de Idris |
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| Tramontano Castle |
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