Italy has the amazing capability of taking you back in time as you wander the streets and experience the traditions! Read more about how this happened to us during our visit to Matera!
When we walked the streets of this 2000 years old city, we couldn’t help but to be thrown back in time… This is how we felt when we visited Matera during our 2015 tour through Puglia. It felt like both a fairytale and a dream. The ancient cave dwellings (Sassi di Matera), the color changes of the buildings as the sunset approaches, the silence of the deserted streets… it's as if you are walking the same streets the BC era. Watching the city transform from day light to sunset is experiencing real life magic…
No wonder that “The Passion of the Christ”, the 2004 biblical drama depicting the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life is filmed in this ancient city. Directed by Mel Gibson, the movie stars Jim Caviezel (Jesus), Maia Morgenstern (Mary), Monica Bellucci (Mary Magdalene), and the Italian singer/composer Adriano Celentano’s daughter -Rosalinda Celentano- as Satan. The main locations used in filming the movie are Rome, and the region of Basilica, which is also known as Lucania. It's stunning historical architectures attract many tourists to this southern region annually.
"Watching the city transform from day light to sunset is experiencing real life magic"
The medieval village of Craco, located in the Province of Matera, is another filming location of this movie. It is now a ghost town; abandoned since 1963 due to many natural disasters, and now a major tourist attraction because of its mysterious exterior.
Take a look at these beautiful historic places:
Matera
Matera
Matera
Craco
Craco
Looking to experience the authentic Italian lifestyle and embrace the history of it? Travel Italian Style is heading back to Puglia in September 2016 - we have limited spots available, contact us today to join the wait list!
Meet Linet
My name is Linet Malekian. I am currently a student at California State University, Long Beach majoring in Recreation and Leisure Studies, with a concentration in Travel and Tourism. I also have a background in Electronic Media, and have taken several film and media courses. My passion for movies and traveling has motivated me to gain knowledge in both industries. Although I am currently more involved in the entertainment industry, my ultimate goal is to find a new and fun way to combine the two fields of travel and movies as my main career in near future.