Matera

Responding to the request to see the tourist postcard shots here are some images from yesterday.

The view across the ravine gives you a good sense of site and situation of the town.

The old town on the lower slopes contained over 50% of Matera’s population in the 1950’s living in sassi, the caves. However conditions were very grim and infant mortality was 50%. In the late 50’s 15000 inhabitants were forcibly relocated to new housing schemes on top of the rim.

The towns misery and misfortune have, ironically, proved an asset. The site has become a UNESCO World Heritage sight, this year it is the European Capital of Culture and is over run with tourists.

Although many of the sassi are in poor state a number of sassi have been converted in to boutique homes, restaurants and designer cave-hotels.

Extras give a closer look at the town with an “exit through the gift shop” of one sassi. There mainly mono as I feel they better reflect the place.