Matera

Our final destination of our trip to Puglia in February 2024. No, not Puglia, this is Bassilicata! So, Matera gets its own page here.  Ànd one can notice driving into another region coming from Tarento, because of the changing landscape: more hilly with green grass and here in Matera even mountaineaous (with less green grass) but when visiting Puglia, one realy should go to Matera too, because Matera, to us was the most stunning surprise imaginable.

We arrived in the late afternoon and had enough time before sunset to enjoy its magnificent views. And to make some of the six photos from here Kurt Hielscher published in his 1939 Italy edition. From our apartment for a night at the Via Lucana, it was a short walk to the main street of the old city Via Domenico Ridola and the viewpoint: the Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli. It took me a while to notice that Kurt Hielscher made one of his photos from here, because I think everybody will look up to the left, while Kurt Hielscher made his photo down to the right. So, this one is from the same place but with quite a different view.

When you take a look at the rock on the right side of the photo, you can see a church. It is the Chiesa di Santa Maria di Idris. Kurt Hielscher made two photos here. So, we hurried to catch the latest sun before it would set.

Via Domenico Ridola with the Palazzo Lanfranchi that houses the Museo Nazionale di Matera on the south end side and the Chiesa del Purgatorio on the north in the distance. 

Situated on, against and in a huge rock, this is the place to be around sunset. The sun lasts here longest than anywhere else, except for maybe at the Basilica on the opposite hill. From there ofcourse you don't have a view on the Basilica. We hurried to make it and we made it and it was worth it to see the sun go down for something like a little less than half an hour.

The small church dates back to the 15th century with a crypt dedicated to San Giovanni in Monterrone, also the name of the rock, to be found through a tunnel that is also leading underground to the nearby church Chiesa di San Pietro Caveoso, if I understood well. Unfortunately, we couldn't get in, but preferred the unique sunset at that time anyway. 

View from the Chiesa di Santa Maria di Idris situated on a rock with the tower of the Chiesa di San Pietro Caveoso in front of the photo and the Basilica Cattedrale di Matera "Maria Santissima della Bruna" glowing in the setting sun. 

Another view on Matera seen from the Chiesa di Santa Maria di Idris. Kurt Hielscher made two photos here.

Sweet streetart in, for the most authentic, Matera.

After sunset we walked up to the Bassilica where we could enjoy another great view with the lights turning on one after another.

View from our balcony just after arrival in the afternoon.

Below: Early morning sunrise on Matera seen from our appartment at 8:05 AM.