Matera's Ionian Coast is a gorgeous stretch of paradise on earth. By now, most travelers have heard of Matera, the city of the sassi (stones) and its famous cave dwellings. It's also the 2019 European Capital of Culture. This ancient city is beginning to make a name ...

The southern region of Basilicata is full of mystery, of ancient traditions, and permeated by traces of those that have come before. Its "city of stones", Matera, has come into the international spotlight with a twenty-percent increase in foreign tourism during the last ten years. ...

In Italy, there are places where reality and imagination are lost in a vortex of unparalleled mysticism. This is the case of Craco, an ancient uninhabited village that stands out on the heights surrounded by the typical gullies, in the heart of Basilicata, a few ...

The year 2019 was the year of Matera: the "European Capital of Culture" reserved for the elite. Among the numerous cultural initiatives that were planned throughout the entire year in the city, this particular adventure is a journey of Matera's Via Crucis or the Stations ...

In part I of our article on Matera we explored Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, or the rupestrian part of the ancient city. Part II will focus on other parts of the city (and beyond) that should definitely be included in any visit to Matera. We'll also ...

One of the most striking and now recognizable cities in the entire world, Matera is the mysterious "Città dei sassi" or "the City of Stone". Virtually unknown to tourists until the late '90s and early 2000s, Matera has gone from one of the most impoverished cities ...

Metaponto is a delightful seaside resort located in the municipality of Bernalda about 48 km from Matera. @wikimedia commons Along the coast, lies the Metaponto Lido surrounded by greenery. You'll find a variety of beach resorts and restaurants with menus ranging from pizza to seafood specialties. In ...

Not everyone knows that in many places in Italy and Europe, Carnival celebrations actually begin on January 17th or the Patron Saint Day of Saint Anthony the Abbot. The small village of Tricarico, in the province of Matera, is one of these places where ancient ...

It's finally here! After a long wait that began in October 2014, everything is finally ready for the opening ceremony of Matera European Capital of Culture 2019! The inauguration will kick off a 48 week long series of cultural events in the fabulous "City of Stones"! The inaugural ceremony will ...

Matera, the European Capital of Culture 2019 and the City of Christmas 2018, has been representing Basilicata in the world for a few years now. Basilicata remained unknown to many for a long time. In fact, a local director, Rocco Papaleo, in his film Basilicata Coast to Coast says: ...