Matera is one of the most interesting, fascinating and amazing destinations in Italy, famous for its extensive cave-dwelling districts, the Sassi, the rupestrian churches and the natural areas that preserve a unique habitat. In 1993 the town was made a UNESCO World Heritage site, for being "the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region, perfectly adapted to its terrain and ecosystem. The first inhabited zone dates from the Palaeolithic, while later settlements illustrate a number of significant stages in human history".
The stunning landscape of Matera has been chosen to shoot many films, including "The Passion of Christ" by Mel Gibson.
Matera awarded the title of “2019 European Capital of Culture” in Italy.

• https://www.basilicataturistica.it/en/matera-unesco-world-heritage-site/

• http://www.sassiweb.it/matera/la-citta-di-matera/introduzione/

• http://www.comune.matera.it/

1. Ristorante Alle Fornaci - Piazza C. Firrao, 7;

2. Ristorante Moro – Vico IV Cappelluti, 2;

3. Al Falco Grillaio - Via Domenico Ridola, 17;

4. Trattoria Stano - Via Santa Cesarea, 67/69;

5. Trattoria Lucana - Via Lucana, n.48;

6. Osteria San Francesco - Via del Corso, 80;

7. Pizzeria Il Rusticone - Via San Biagio, 5;

8. Pizzeria Italiae Gustum - P.zza Mulino, 17.

Rooftop Bars

1. Terrazza Cavaliere - Via Domenico Ridola, 33;

2. In Every Hour - Via XX Settembre, 25/2;

3. Lounge Café Schiuma - Via del Corso, 60;

4. Caffè Lanfranchi - Via Domenico Ridola, 43;

5. Bar Caffè Tripoli - Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 17.

Art and Culture in Basilicata

Basilicata offers great emotions to art, history and archaeology lovers and scholars as well: there are many points of interest in the region. Castles, museums, literary parks, archaeological areas and museums, art galleries, monasteries, churches and sacred mountains make Basilicata's artistic, historical and cultural heritage a unique place, made even more evocative by its breathtaking scenery and undiscovered nature.

To learn what Basilicata offers, visit the "Basilicata Turistica" website 

Furthermore, if you want to go to the cinema or to the theatre, you have a lot of choices.

• Cinema:  Movies are normally shown in the evenings from 15.30 to 22.00.  To learn where to go, click here and select the province and municipality of reference.

• Theatre: Usually shows and plays begin at 21.00 (entrance at 20.30) and the programme is in line with what is normally announced at the beginning of the season. The list is available on http://www.comuni-italiani.it/17/teatri.html.

• Museums: It is possible to visit museums from Mondays to Saturdays on both mornings and in the afternoons. Some weeks museums are also open on Sundays. For information visit the “Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Basilicata” website.  The list of museums is available on the Potenza Municipality website or the Matera Municipality website.

Useful numbers

Local Police

• in Potenza: Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 42 - 85100 Potenza; phone: +39 0971 334111, fax: +39 0971 334427;

• in Matera: Via Gattini n.12 - 75100 Matera; phone: Centralino +39 0835 378111, fax: +39 0835 378777

Foreign Office 

Health emergencies (First Aid)

• Ospedale San Carlo (Potenza), Via Potito Petrone, SNC, 85100 Potenza, phone: +39 0971 61111;

• Green Area: + 39 0971 612694 (green and white code - slight illness); Red Area: + 39 0971 612566 (yellow and red code - emergency);

118 Basilicata 

• Presidio Ospedaliero "Madonna delle Grazie"(Matera) (D.E.A.), Via Montescaglioso, 75100 Matera, phone: 0835 253111 – 252211

Taxi

• Becce Domenico, Via del Gallitello no. 49/a - Potenza. phone. +39 097155781 - + 39 3278832001

• D'Affuso Rosario, Piazza Gianturco no. 4 - Potenza, phone. + 39 3407741260

• Russillo Francesco,Via Torraca no. 16 - Potenza, phone. + 39 3683530980

Car rental

• Avis, Via Appia no. 283, 85100 Potenza - phone: +39 0971471040 web: www.avisautonoleggio.it

• Hertz, Contrada Caira no. 106, Potenza, 85100 Potenza - phone: + 39 097158524 web: www.hertz.it

• Europcar, via degli Oleandri,no. 28,851000 Potenza - phone: +39 09711932121 web: www.europcar.it

• Travelcar, Via Varco d'Izzo no. 18, 85100 Potenza - phone: +390971/594321

• Autorental - Via Della Meccanica, 12, 85100 Potenza - phone: +39 0971 508086 329 0192172 328 8361048 web: www.autorental.it/  

Climate

Basilicata has a more varied climate, being a region also exposed to two seas. In addition, the eastern part (which is not protected by the Apennines) is influenced by the Adriatic Sea, to which the orography of the territory and the irregular altitude of the mountains must be added. In any case, the climate of the region can be defined as continental, with Mediterranean characteristics only in the coastal areas. If you go a few kilometres inland, especially in winter, the mildness is immediately replaced by a colder climate.

For the areas close to the coasts, we can identify the Ionian plain of Metapontino, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, but fairly windy; and the Tyrrhenian coast, where the difference is that in winter the temperature is slightly higher and in summer it is slightly cooler with more humidity on average. Then we find the Matera hills, where winters become cold and foggy from 300-400 metres upwards, and snow can appear often during the year, from November to late March. Summers here are also hot and dry, with fairly high daily temperature ranges. In the Apennine Mountain area, which corresponds to 7/10 of the region's territory, winters are very cold, especially above 1,000 metres above sea level, where snow on the ground remains until mid-spring but can remain until the end of May on the highest peaks. In Potenza, for example, the Regional County Seat of Basilicata located at 819 metres above sea level, winters can be very snowy, and temperatures can drop many degrees below zero (the record is -15 °C), making it one of the coldest cities in Italy. Summers are moderately hot, although night-time temperatures can be very cool. The most frequent winds come mainly from the western and southern quadrants.

Useful links

• http://www.discoverbasilicata.com/about-basilicata/history-heritage
• http://www.aptbasilicata.it/
• http://www.basilicatanet.com/ita/web/item.asp?nav=potenza
• https://www.basilicataturistica.it/en/