Matera and Martina Franca

Today we drove to Matera. 

Some Google AI history:

Before its integration into the modern Italian state, the city of Matera had experienced the rule of the Romans, Lombards, Arabs, Byzantine Greeks, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, and Bourbons.

Although scholars continue to debate the date the dwellings were first occupied in Matera,and the continuity of their subsequent occupation, the area of what is now Matera is believed to have been settled since the Palaeolithic(tenth millennium BC). This makes it potentially one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in the world. Alternatively, it has been suggested that the area has been “occupied continuously for at least three millennia”.  

Matera is 5 out of 5 stars if you ever come to this region. We did a fabulous tour and it did not disappoint. The inhabitants of the caves were living without running water and lived with their livestock and donkeys. Italy was disgraced do find that people were living like this in these caves and in 1950 ordered them to get out and gave them homes in apartments. 

The only dwelling we entered was Chiesa di Santa Lucia Alma Malve. We were not allowed to take photos. It was very fascinating and you can check it out here: 

Santa Lucia alle Malve – oltrelartematera.it

We had a late lunch and tried the typical fava bean purée with chicory. Fava beans are good luck symbols and Fava beans are packed with magnesium and potassium, which may help relax blood vessels and lower high blood pressure.We all need to eat them lol. We also had pasta with sweet dried pepper sauce (crusco peppers (peperone crusco), a specialty of this land Matera province). Both were delicious. 

We got back to Martina Franca for our final night in MF before we drive back to Bari in the morning.

I cannot leave Martina Franca without giving it its due credit

It’s in the heart of the Itria Valley, and it is known to be a lively town famous for its concentration of baroque. It is a tangle of stone alleys, baroque churches and palaces with flowery wrought iron balconies. In summer it is home to the prestigious opera music festival of the Valle d’Itria.

We checked out the many churches and Paige got a caffe leccese in the square. We wondered way out of the old town for a pizza that was recommended by Carmelo in the caffe shop called First Class Bistrot. The walk was fantastic because we got to see the other side of the old town, the entrance gate. Just beyond the gate we saw the sculpture of the white holding hands that we walked under. We walked down a very nice street of shops and specialty market places like fresh fish, bakeries, butchers and restaurants. 

All in all I highly recommend Martina Franca for its excellent location and its small town charm. BTW MF was not hopping on Monday night. It was very quiet. I think Sunday was the end of the European holiday. I would not want to be here July or August with crowds and with the hot weather.

Matera and Martina Franca