12^th EFTMS workshop and the 1^st EFTMS School: Tourist Information

Location

Matera, the city
Matera is a city and a province in the region of Basilicata, in southern Italy. It has a population of around 55,000 inhabitants, an altitude of 401 meters (1315 ft.) above sea level and 45 kilometers (28 mi) far from the sea.

The town lies in a small canyon, which has been eroded in the course of years by a small stream, the Gravina.

The city is organised by three areas dated back to different historical periods. The oldest, called the Sassi, considered World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1993, along with the Park of the Rupestrian Churches, spur from the Civita to the Cathedral; the Medieval - Renaissance area is developed alongside the "Plan" on the edge of the Sassi; then, the Modern city, elegant districts designed by some of the most famous Italian architects.

http://www.sassiweb.com/home/



The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera

Matera is a very alive and creative, a city of our times, a bearer of a culture that thrives on contemporary events and ancient history. Many are the symbols and the churches of Matera built between the thirteenth and nineteenth century, largely inspired by the echoes of baroque architecture; yet, the oldest are St. John , St. Dominic and the Duomo with an intense influences of the Apulian-Romanesque culture. This shows that while there were laure (ancient Byzantine shelters) and the caves, Matera developed a parallel civilised life open to relations with neighboring populations.

From the ‘50s onwards Matera has been an important place for experimentation and innovation. It has attracted great filmmakers and artists, and it has been a fertile ground for successful collaboration between locals and those from outside the community.

On October 17, 2014, Matera was declared Italian host of European Capital of Culture for 2019.