Matera is a city in the southern Italian region of Basilicata and also capital of the province of the same name. Matera is located in the valley of the Gravina di Matera River, 46 kilometers from the Ionian Sea. The city is known for the Sassi, a district consisting of houses partly carved out of the mountains. The origins of Matera lie in prehistoric times when people started carving houses in the gorges of the area.
The city consists of two parts; the Sassi near the gorge and the modern city on the plain. The Sassi were still inhabited by 15,000 people until 1952 when the Italian government banned it due to poor hygiene and sanitary conditions. In the center of the Sassi stands at the highest point the cathedral from 1230. In addition to this church, the Sassi count 155 cave churches, starting from a few square meters in size.
I am Antwan Janssen, travel and nature photographer from Uden. During my many travels on this globe I try to capture all the beauty on photo. As you can see on this site my preference goes to landscapes, wildlife but also to the local population, mostly abroad.. Read more…