Matera Sassi

7000 BCE - 1950 CE

Inhabited from the Paleolithic

Cave town

Continuous Inhabitation Since the Paleolithic

The Sassi di Matera represent one of the oldest continuously inhabited human settlements in Italy, with archaeological evidence indicating occupation as early as 7000 BC. Originating from prehistoric troglodyte settlements, these cave dwellings have been used for millennia, spanning from the Paleolithic period to the modern era. According to some accounts, Matera is unique globally for having residents who still occupy the same ancestral cave houses that were established approximately 9,000 years ago, maintaining a direct link to the site's ancient prehistoric foundations.

Forced Relocation and 20th-Century Crisis

During the 1950s, the Italian government initiated a forceful relocation of the Sassi's population to modern areas of the city due to extreme poverty and rampant malaria. The living conditions within the cave dwellings were officially condemned as 'inhuman' and viewed as an embarrassment to the new Italian Republic under Alcide De Gasperi. Despite these efforts to clear the site, some residents persisted in living there, even as many of the ancient structures were declared uninhabitable and fell into a period of significant social and physical decline.

UNESCO Recognition and Modern Regeneration

The Sassi di Matera, along with the adjacent Park of the Rupestrian Churches, achieved international recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. This designation covered a core area of 1,016 hectares supported by a 4,365-hectare buffer zone. Following this status, the local administration shifted toward a tourism-oriented economy, utilizing aid from the European Union and the Italian government to regenerate the district. This transition transformed the once-impoverished area into a hub for thriving businesses, including hotels and pubs, by the early 21st century.

Cinematic Role as Biblical Jerusalem

Due to their striking visual similarity to ancient sites in and around Jerusalem, the Sassi have frequently served as a filming location for major Christian-themed motion pictures. Notable productions include Pier Paolo Pasolini's 'The Gospel According to St. Matthew' (1964), Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' (2004), and 'The Nativity Story' (2006). Beyond biblical epics, the site's unique landscape has represented fictional locations such as the Amazons' city of Themyscira in 'Wonder Woman' (2017) and served as a backdrop for high-action sequences in the James Bond film 'No Time to Die' (2021).

Subterranean Architecture in Calcarenitic Rock

The architectural identity of the Sassi is defined by houses excavated directly into calcarenitic rock, a material characteristic of the Basilicata and Apulia regions. Locally referred to as 'tufo,' this stone is distinct from both volcanic tuff and tufa limestone. The construction method involved carving living spaces into the slopes of the ravine created by the Gravina river. This subtractive engineering allowed for a dense urban fabric where the streets in certain sectors were built directly on top of the roofs of lower dwellings.

Topography of Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano

The Sassi are organized into two primary districts, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, which together with the Civita and the Piano districts constitute the Old Town of Matera. This ancient urban center developed along the steep slopes of 'la Gravina,' a deep ravine carved by the Gravina river within the Murgia Plateau. The name 'Sassi' itself is derived from the Latin 'saxum,' which translates to a hill, rock, or great stone, reflecting the site's rugged geological integration and its position between the Apulia and Basilicata regions.

Subterranean Architecture in Calcarenitic Rock

The architectural identity of the Sassi is defined by houses excavated directly into calcarenitic rock, a material characteristic of the Basilicata and Apulia regions. Locally referred to as 'tufo,' this stone is distinct from both volcanic tuff and tufa limestone. The construction method involved carving living spaces into the slopes of the ravine created by the Gravina river. This subtractive engineering allowed for a dense urban fabric where the streets in certain sectors were built directly on top of the roofs of lower dwellings.