Southern Italy - A Rick Steves Tour
Matera - The Sassi
Day 6
I actually took this tour because I wanted to see the Amalfi Coast but I must admit the trulli houses and The Sassi took my breath away. The Amalfi coast is gorgeous but these last two days are unique, one-of-a-kind places that you’d never find on your own. They are not even in the Rick Steves guidebook - it really is a hidden gem!
Recent
The cave dwellings in The Sassi are about 9,000 years old.
It will blow your mind that only 60 years or so ago did the Italian government stop people from living in these caves.
The government forced the residents out of The Sassi and into apartments built above them.
Only if the caves could be brought up to code, meaning electricity, running water and washroom facilities included could they be inhabited.
Due to the expense, it is basically small B&B’s that have emerged in these caves.
A few of the homes are open for tours and it is most impressive to see how these people lived. Who needed electricity, they don’t!
Local Expert
We were provided with a local tour guide in the morning that walked us around the town explaining the buildings, churches and the inter-workings of the community.
Our guide's family had actually lived in The Sassi and remains in the area today.
She was multi-generational Sassi inhabitant, talk about a local expert.
