Matera is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but things haven't always been so idyllic for the city (especially for its inhabitants). To see for yourself how people once lived in this place and what difficulties they were forced to face on a daily basis, visit one of the many "cave houses" with faithful reproductions of the furnishings that you will find among the Sassi. You will soon discover that life inside the humid caves, where people lived together with numerous offspring but above all with animals, in the absence of a sewage system and drinking water, was the perfect place for the proliferation of diseases.

This is one of the best things to see in Matera to fully understand its evolution from “Shame of Italy” to the first UNESCO Heritage site of southern Italy in 1993 and European Capital of Culture in 2019.

TICKETS:

Tickets cost €5 and you can get them on the website below.

The Casa Grotta nei Sassi di Matera is an unforgettable sight located in the Basilicata region of Italy. The dwellings, which excavated from rock formations, form a unique community of its own. These caves, some that have even been carved out of balconies, are evidence of ancient settlements of prehistoric man. It's like stepping back in time to the Neolithic times and discovering hidden gems along the way. Boasting stunning views over the city from the hills, the cave dwellings offer one an unforgettable experience into what life was like during those times.