Soglia Village Torre del Faro Matera

... for over 7,000 years! So we drove 3 hours to get there and stopped to briefly explore the beautiful but boring town of Tricarico on the way. The drive was quite beautiful along very nice country lanes that reminded us of the Tuscany region.<br><br>Matera is located on the edge of a deep river ravine and has a rambling ancient neighborhood area called the &#8220;Sassi&#8221; district. The Sassi is a large area of ancient dwellings and businesses that are actual ...

... well preserved, and the Sassi ('stones') districts are now undergoing stylish renovations and are now host to bars, restaurants, and chic boutique hotels. <br><br>Our hotel, the 5* Palazzo Gattini, was stunning, and combined old world luxury with every modern comfort. The view from the terrace and the balconies to the ancient caves was magical and entrancing. Wandering through the Sassi ...

... and look over at the village from the other side of the canyon. So we took all sorts of little tracks until we found the right one in the dying light - and what an awesome sight it was in the morning, coffee in hand sitting on a rock at the edge of the canyon, watching the mist clear (check out the pics). For any movie buffs, we happened to be sitting on the spot in Mel´s movie where Christ was crucified - so not ...

About 2 weeks ago I went away with Gianluca and Manuela to their hometown - Matera which is in the South of Italy. It took us 5 hours by train to get to Bari (an Italian Port), and then we met Phillipo one of Gianluca and Manuela's friends, who drove us the rest of the way to Matera. We arrived that night at about 11pm, then dropped our bags of at Manuela's mother's house and went out for for drinks. Over the course of the weekend I reckon I ...

... hostel was situated right in the middle of this old section of the town, so that I was able to dine, work and nap surrounded by this tranquil, yet lively village. I am continuing towards Bari tomorrow and then to Greece. I am excited to head back out on the road in an unfamiliar territory but in the same time I am already feeling a little sad to leave. All in all, I have had a wonderful time here in Italy; I am sure I will be back sooner than later.

... hauled the bike up to the closest auto-washer and gave my bike a good rinse. We then returned to the shop were his son gave the bike a careful oiling (after I cleared the left-over smudges with some paper towel the shop-keeper provided me with). At the end of the process the owner wished me good luck and refused to take any money, "you can buy me a coffee tomorrow morning!" he said. The next encounter I had was in the local ...

... As the dwellings go further down, they become rock houses (basically caves) and churches carved into the hillside. These rock dwellings are extremely old and can only be paralleled by Cappadocia in Turkey and Petra in Jordan. We later found out that Passion of the Christ was filmed in Matera which attracts many tourists - though not us!!! Unfortunately, as it was so hilly, we could ...

Getting off the ferry from Greece, met Paolo who just happened to live in Matera. He showed me a photo and told me it was a Unesco World Heritage Site so I went there. I wanted to see the tulli houses and Paolo promised to take me so I was set. Matera was beautiful with an ...

... the old building. Matera has be inhabited longer than anywhere in the world for the longest period of time. There is sone age painting in caves through this region. When we post the pics, you will be surprised about the living conditions that once were. Though some people still are living in the abondon homes. Later, J&amp;K

Ciao amici <br>Well, as you know my father is with me. I have to deliver him to Matera, where his oldest sister lives with her family - my cousin Nino, his wife Elisa, and their sons Gianluca and Andrea. Gianluca and his girlfriend, Manuela, spent 2 months with us in Melbourne last year and another 4 months in Sydney and other places, and only returned to Italy in March this year. Gianluca will take Dad over from me and organise for him to go to Ferrara, where he will be picked up ...