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The Basilicata region is one of the most overlooked and interesting regions in Italy to explore. As we were leaving the Amalfi Coast, we read about a wonderful place called Matera and decided at the last minute to visit the town. Matera has recently been designated a World Heritage Site by Unesco (note: Angkor Wat is also a Unesco WHS). Originally, we planned on spending two days in Matera. However, we quickly found ourselves captivated by this ancient city. In fact, we ended up staying an entire week! Matera is made up of stone houses or "Sassi" carved into two deep ravines. Up until the 1950s, over 30,000 people lived in the Sassi without running water or sewage systems. We have not been to Petra, however, a number of people told us that Matera is similar. We stayed at a wonderful Bed and Breakfast owned by our new friend, Mario D'Imperio. We also met a number of other charming people and ate some of the best food in Italy. Although Matera is a little off the beaten path, we would highly recommend a visit to this fascinating place. We also visited a beautiful church in Bari where Saint Nicklaus' (Santa Claus!) tomb is located. No pictures were allowed.
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