The Gravina dug the limestone plateau of the Murge, where spreads Matera. Many natural caves have been carved and served as a refuge for men since the Paleolithic , it would be one of the oldest prehistoric sites. Greeks and Romans in turn occupied the premises at the crossroads of trade routes (Matera was one stage of the Via Appia ).

The limestone does not allow to retain rainwater in a water table , rain water is collected in cisterns. During the history of many caves have sheltered rock churches. For ^seventh and ^eighth centuries , the caves became the refuge of monks Byzantines , who transformed their walls chapels. We can admire frescoes strong influence Byzantine.

During the Norman domination, the city experienced a boom, they're building the castle and ramparts. The population is growing, she is forced to occupy the caves outside the walls of protection. She is then two natural amphitheater, the Sasso Sasso Caveoso and Barisano. Until the ^sixteenth century , life is organized around and with relief.

During the Spanish occupation, the city no longer has the same radiation. The artistic priorities of the time disparage the Sassi, who despised and become home to a population increasingly impoverished and occupied the site default .

The main room at the front was occupied by the family and pets were returned in the evening in the back room. The birth rate was high in these areas: up to six live children, and everyone piled in one room that served as dining room, bedroom and workshop, the baby often slept in the bottom drawer of the chest. Even in the ^twentieth century , neither running water nor sewerage had been installed.

It was only in 1953 that the last resident is gone, following a political decision, because of the precarious sanitary conditions in these neighborhoods. It's the Law De Gasperi , who in 1952 , imposed the evacuation and relocation of sassi of their population. At that time, 15,000 people live there in inhumane sanitary conditions.

The Gravina dug into the limestone on which the site of cave dwellers have settled since the Paleolithic period to the ^{mid-twentieth} century.

Since then, a huge development project was implemented, given the country's best urban planners to create new neighborhoods, while trying to preserve the sociability of particular sassi. In recent games the facades of houses are built and some roofs are streets on the upper floors.

Other monuments

Religious buildings

• The cathedral 's Romanesque XIII ^century.
• The Church of St. John the Baptist , the thirteenth ^century.
• The church of San Pietro Caveoso , the thirteenth ^century as well.
• The convent of St. Augustine , Italian national monument of the ^sixteenth century.

The Sassi have 130 rock churches, especially in the sasso Caveoso, some of them are open to the public. Other churches are to distinguish those dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare, St. Dominic's Church or in Purgatory.

Monuments profane

• The castle Tramontano , situated on the hill Lapillo.
• The Lanfranchi Palace , seat of the museum of medieval arts and modern Basilicata.
• The palace of the Annunciation.

People born in the city

• Egidio Romualdo Duni , (1709-1775), composer.
• Mariolina Venezia , (1961 -), writer.

Views of Sasso

• 

  Supply of rainwater.

• 

  Cave with tank inside.

• 

  Interior restored.

Administration

Hamlets

The Martella, Venusio, Picciano A, B Picciano

Common Boundary

Altamura , Ginosa , Gravina in Puglia , Grottole , Laterza , Miglionico , Montescaglioso , Santeramo in Colle

Demographics

Residents identified

Economy

The city is home to a cement group Italcementi .

See also

Related articles

• Matera
• Civita di Tricarico
• List of Italian cities over 25,000 inhabitants
• List of major Italian cities ranked by number of inhabitants

External Links

• July 2 Matera is renewed in a rich feast of history, religion and folklore
• Tourist Guide On-line devoted to the city of Matera
• Rock Churches of Matera on Google Maps
• I Sassi di Matera virtual tour
• Rock Churches of Matera virtual tour

References