Weekend with Dennis in Puglia/ Basilicata

After a lovely morning, with beautiful weather, visiting Nonna Maria ( she was really happy to have a visitor), it was time to welcome Dennis, 

who sadly arrived seconds before the clouds shed their heavy load, and we needed to sit out another big storm with thunder and lightning, thankfully not so violent and long as on my first day.

Our short visits to Locorotunda for lunch and then Alberobello for Dennis to visit the trulli were great. This street of trulli made me realise just how closely people lived together! Hopefully they all got on well?

As we drove towards Matera storm clouds gathered again, but fortunately towards the East, and we were heading West.

Our first glimpse of The Sassi of Matera was pretty sensational. Wow, how incredible it is at night. Actually, in the distance, the sky was also lit up by an amazing lightning display, luckily near the east coast and not heading our way! Considering Matera is  perched high up on the hills, I certainly was not keen to be out in another storm!

Matera by day was so completely different, but no less amazing. How on earth did the people so many hundreds of years ago manage to build such a vast city which has stood the test of time and become a magnet for visitors from all over the world. Considering that it was an area of great poverty until the late 1980 s , it is a wonder that this city had become a World Heritage Unesco Site by 1993. 

Tucked into street corners were very pretty homes where plants seemed to grow out of nothing!

At the bottom of the Sassi Barisano, we were surrounded by fantastic buildings, built into the rock, many with the most unbelievably steep staircases to access them. This staircase led to a hotel. I could not imagine having to carry luggage up there!

Most of the little streets of the Sassi were luckily in the shade, thanks to the density of the buildings there, but it was still hot work walking up and down, so great to have a number of old wells to access very good drinking water. What a perfect oasis!

This balcony caught my eye, especially the teapot!

At the end of the Sassi Barisano, we walked up to one of the very many churches, Chesa Agostino from which we had a spectacular view over the unbuilt area of Matera, La Gravina, the gorge, and the city. I can only imagine that the area where the city stands now looked like this thousands of years ago. The Sasso Caveoso was built on one side of this ravine and historians believe the caves were inhabited possibly 7000BC. I found this all just too incredible for words. Just imagine now living in a home where people lived 9000 years ago.

Fortunately, I decided to wander on beside the Gravina, although the midday sun did not make the long road ahead seem very inviting. It was all worth it. The view back at the church we had just visited was awesome. How did they ever build such incredible structures.

We found a haven with plenty of shade and a fabulous view to the other side of the Gravina. The restaurant we had lunch in was actually in the ruins of an ancient church. It was a brilliant find, bevause not only was it historically impressive, but the food was cheap, plentiful and super tasty, in complete contrast to the meal the evening before, which was a complete tourist rip- off. 

'Can the views get any better', I asked myself? The answer, yes! Just round the corner as we reached the Sasso Caveoso and looked back this was the magnificent panoramic view over The Sassi Barisano and the Gravina. Where in the world can you find such a unique mix of magnificent natural beauty and man- made marvels?  It certainly deserves to be the aeuropean Capital of culture this year, in fact, I think it should be amongst the wonders of the world.

Of course, the sky with its wispy clouds added even more beauty to an already sensational place.

Wow, oh wow! No wonder this unique city has been chosen as the setting of so many films and series. I have never seen or even imagined I would one day see such an ancient living city. It is probably the most memorable day I have had in my life, despite having had so many fantastic experiences. Here before me is the Sasso Caveoso, with its famous Santa Maria de Idris, built almost completely into the cliffs, and still with many centuries-old frescoes. Just glorious and totally unique.

We could have spent days meandering around the little streets of both Sassis, but we needed to move on. We had decided to visit Polignano sul Mare, which had been recommended to me. 

It was extremely hot still when we got there, and the town was teeming with tourists and locals. It was certainly a pretty impressive place, with its medieval city built on top of very steep cliffs.

The old town is a maze of narrow streets with brightly painted houses with the most attractive balconies. 

There were some spectacular views along the high, jagged cliffs, which are apparently used for cliff diving competitions. It was scary enough just standing on the terrace! I did manage a smile for the camera!

It was a great weekend but far too short to do justice to the stunning city of Matera. I will just have to go back!