About Matera, Italy:
Matera is a city on a rocky outcrop in the region of Basilicata, in southern Italy. Matera includes the Sassi area, a complex of cave dwellings carved into the mountainside. The Sassi was evacuated in 1952 due to poor living conditions and now houses museums like the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario, with period furniture and artisan tools.
Interestingly, in 2025, American actor and director Mel Gibson went to Matera to scout locations for his film ‘The Resurrection of Christ’, the sequel to his famous film ‘The Passion of the Christ’. With his collaborators, Gibson visited the city and local areas, especially the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario, a location already used in the prequel. In addition to Matera, the film’s crew will also shoot scenes in Ginosa, Altamura, and Gravina di Laterza, in Puglia. Filming will begin in August at Cinecittà
Catholic places of interest in Matera, Italy:
Matera Cathedral: striking 13th-century Apulian-Romanesque architecture featuring a 13th-century fresco of the Madonna della Bruna, prominent rose window, 16th-century sculptures and a unique 14th-century stone nativity scene.
Santa Lucia alle Malve: 8th-century rock church known for its well-preserved Byzantine-style frescoes from the 13th and 14th centuries.
Traveling to Matera, Italy:
To travel to Matera, fly into Bari Airport (BRI), the closest major airport, then take a bus or shuttle directly to Matera. You can also drive to Matera and park in designated lots outside the pedestrian-only Sassi area.