Matera is perched on the edge of a deep ravine in the Basilicata region. The town is divided into a modern, bustling upper part and the old Sassi (cave) district below.
The Sassi District Slide Show
Hotel San Martino
Strolling Matera Slide Show
Day 5 (June 7) Alberobello and Matera
An early departure from Vieste enroute to Matera with a stop in Alberobello. Alberobello is as far south as we went and is in the Puglia region at the heel of the Italian geographical boot. Alberobello is noted for the unusual trulli houses and spicey food. The trulli houses are interesting and the ones we saw were neatly refurbished. We had the opportunity to go inside a replica of a traditional trulli house and it was interesting. Donald arranged a food and wine tasting at Tholos Vini and Company which was very good. Nancy purchased some spices from the local area which we later discovered were very spicy but had a great flavor.
We arrived in Matera in the middle of the afternoon and checked into our hotel, Locanda di San Martino. Our hotel is located in the Sasso Barisano which is one of the cave areas of Matera. Our room is partially in a cave but quite modern and nice. This is a truly unique and unusual hotel. We chilled on the patio next to our room until time for dinner. Some people went to the spa in the hotel which they reported was very nice. Dinner was provided at the Le Botteghe on Plaza San Pietro Barisano. A very big meal with lots of meat, pasta, and veggies. The rich red wine was good. We returned to the room, happy and stunned by the food and wine.
Day 6 (June 8) The Wonders of Matera
After a good breakfast and espresso for a kick start, we met our local guide Anna Lisa. We spent the morning visiting the Sasso Caveoso area and some of the cave churches. We visited a replica of a traditional sassi house where an entire family lived with their animals. The churches were fascinating with many frescos on the walls. Matera is a one of the more unusual places we have visited but interesting. Anna Lisa did an excellent job explaining what we were seeing which was totally unfamiliar.
Stan, Jeanne, Nancy, and Gary had lunch at the Il Terrazzino Ristorante after our monring tour. The view from this restaurant was excellent and the food was fine. A unique location above the Sassi district. We decided to go to the Palazzo Lanfranchi to see the mural Lucania '61 depicting the peasants and people encountered by Carlo levi whom he writes about in his 1935 novel Christ Stopped at Eboli. Well worth the visit.
Later in the afternoon Stan, Jeanne, Nancy, Gary, Chris, and David stopped for a before dinner drink of prosecco on the Piazza Vittorio Veneto before going to the Trattoria Lucana. The Trattoria Lucana is located in the modern section of Matera and makes much of the fact that Mel Gibson ate here when he was making a movie in Matera. The food was good, local dishes in a traditional setting. After dinner we walked back through Piazza Vittorio Veneto where the evening passeggiata was in full tilt.
An early departure from Vieste enroute to Matera with a stop in Alberobello. Alberobello is as far south as we went and is in the Puglia region at the heel of the Italian geographical boot. Alberobello is noted for the unusual trulli houses and spicey food. The trulli houses are interesting and the ones we saw were neatly refurbished. We had the opportunity to go inside a replica of a traditional trulli house and it was interesting. Donald arranged a food and wine tasting at Tholos Vini and Company which was very good. Nancy purchased some spices from the local area which we later discovered were very spicy but had a great flavor.
We arrived in Matera in the middle of the afternoon and checked into our hotel, Locanda di San Martino. Our hotel is located in the Sasso Barisano which is one of the cave areas of Matera. Our room is partially in a cave but quite modern and nice. This is a truly unique and unusual hotel. We chilled on the patio next to our room until time for dinner. Some people went to the spa in the hotel which they reported was very nice. Dinner was provided at the Le Botteghe on Plaza San Pietro Barisano. A very big meal with lots of meat, pasta, and veggies. The rich red wine was good. We returned to the room, happy and stunned by the food and wine.
Day 6 (June 8) The Wonders of Matera
After a good breakfast and espresso for a kick start, we met our local guide Anna Lisa. We spent the morning visiting the Sasso Caveoso area and some of the cave churches. We visited a replica of a traditional sassi house where an entire family lived with their animals. The churches were fascinating with many frescos on the walls. Matera is a one of the more unusual places we have visited but interesting. Anna Lisa did an excellent job explaining what we were seeing which was totally unfamiliar.
Stan, Jeanne, Nancy, and Gary had lunch at the Il Terrazzino Ristorante after our monring tour. The view from this restaurant was excellent and the food was fine. A unique location above the Sassi district. We decided to go to the Palazzo Lanfranchi to see the mural Lucania '61 depicting the peasants and people encountered by Carlo levi whom he writes about in his 1935 novel Christ Stopped at Eboli. Well worth the visit.
Later in the afternoon Stan, Jeanne, Nancy, Gary, Chris, and David stopped for a before dinner drink of prosecco on the Piazza Vittorio Veneto before going to the Trattoria Lucana. The Trattoria Lucana is located in the modern section of Matera and makes much of the fact that Mel Gibson ate here when he was making a movie in Matera. The food was good, local dishes in a traditional setting. After dinner we walked back through Piazza Vittorio Veneto where the evening passeggiata was in full tilt.