Matera is the first Southern Italian city to be recognized as a European Capital of Culture (2019). The town, abandoned for more than 40 years after the II World War and cut off from the modern economy, was one of the poorest cities in Europe. People lived in caves ‘sassi’ (literally ‘stones’) carved out of the limestone, together with animals. Matera was declared the ‘shame of Italy’ and evacuated in 1945. People were relocated few miles away and the sassi were deserted until 1993 when Unesco declared the city a World Heritage Site.
Since then, in only 20 years Matera became the European Capital of Culture in 2019 and hosted an amazing series of pan-European cultural events. The program was spread over 48 weeks beginning with the opening ceremony on 19th January, during which 54 bands, from 27 European Capitals of Culture and 131 local Municipalities, have played in the biggest concert the city has ever seen. More than 2000 musicians walked through the districts of the city, each band playing its own repertoire. Every alleyway was filled up with music and the old town echoed with different bits and pieces, creating a real jam session.
The program for Matera 2019 pushed the boundaries of the city, extending tour routes and relationships beyond the historical center and the picturesque scenery of the Sassi to also include the suburban areas and the entire Basilicata region. Various initiatives took place every day trying to answer the 5 big themes ‘Roots and Routes’, ‘Continuity and Disruptions’, ‘Ancient Futures’, ‘Utopias and Dystopias’, ‘Reflections and Connections’.
5 completely unique urban routes and 4 major exhibitions have been developed in connection to the themes: “Ars Excavandi” on cave cities throughout the world; “Renaissance seen from the South”; “The poetics of prime numbers”; “Stratigraphy. Anthropocene Observatory”. Over 60 original projects, more than once per week took place to offer a mix of tradition and innovation, analog and digital world. Every day during 2019 people were invited to visit an exhibition; attend a live show; wander through natural trails set up and prepared in an original way; meet a local citizen with whom to discuss the past, present, and future of our civilization.
The entire city and the region were set up by the Open Design School, an interdisciplinary lab of local and international designers. Gardentopia and Lumen are their two major projects created with the collaboration of over 3000 locals, invited to turn abandoned public areas into 16 community gardens and to develop paths of lights throughout the city and the region.
Over 100 events – many of them featuring sacred music – brought on stage the project “Paths: discovering the traces of religiosity in Matera-Basilicata” to show the extraordinary ecclesiastical patrimony of the region, once a refuge for those prosecuted.
Visitors experienced a laboratory city and were entertained with music, film, dance, science; they met unique characters, including the world-famous producer Brian Eno, who brought to Matera a preview of his new show dedicated to the 50 years since the first man on the moon.
Nobody in Matera was merely a tourist. Everyone had the opportunity to join the community thanks to the special “Passport 2019” that permitted to acquire a temporary citizenship with rights and duties: the right to access to all events organized by the Foundation and the duty to bring an object, symbolic of the own idea of culture, to contribute to the fifth and final exhibition “Open Future”.
Ready to return ? Take a flight to Bari and stay in one of the 5 suites at La Dimora di Metello to enjoy the memorable experience to sleep inside a luxury cave.
In alternative, step back in time staying at the beautiful Hotel Palazzo Viceconte, an aristocratic frescoed palazzo in the noble part of the city.
Do not forget to book your tour in advance to discover the ‘sassi’ and the Murgia Natural Park. Please leave your email to receive my free guide about Matera & Puglia or book your slot here if you like having a personal chat about your trip.
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