Matera

Culture

The following biblical movies were filmed there because of the ancient scenery reminding the ancient Jerusalem:

• The Gospel According to St Matthew, Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1964.
• King David, Bruce Beresford, 1985.
• The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson, 2004.
• The Nativity Story, Catherine Hardwicke, 2006.

Main sights

• Sassi: The Sassi, houses dug into the rock itself, are suspected to be some of the first human settlements in Italy.
• Chiesi Rupestri: Santa Lucia alle Malve, Santa Maria de Idris, San Giovanni in Monterrone, Convicinio di Sant’Antonio, Santa Barbara.
• Churches: Duomo (13^th century), San Francesco d’Assisi (13^th century), San Pietro Caveoso.