Matera went from ghetto to glory

We arrived in Matera on Sunday afternoon. Our hotel was located in the heart of the historic Sassi. The hotel rises from the 1756 Palazzo dei Abati, an ancient dwelling of the Chapter of the contiguous rock church of San Pietro Barisano, the largest in the city.

Stunning views, overwhelming history. We’ve experienced continued warm hospitality from the local people as we travel.

About Matera-The Sassi originate from a prehistoric troglodyte settlement and are suspected to be among the first human settlements in Italy. There is evidence that people were living here as early as the year 7000 BC.[2]

Until the late 1980s this was considered an area of poverty, since many of these houses were, and in some cases still are, uninhabitable. currently it has become more tourism-oriented, and it has promoted the regeneration of the Sassi with the aid of the European Union, the government, and UNESCO. Today there are many thriving businesses, pubs, and hotels in the Sassi.Weiterlesen