To experience the thrill of a journey back into prehistory, one need only step into the solemn silence of the prehistoric cave dwellings, the Sassi di Matera, a UNESCO world heritage site.
These dwellings are amongst the most ancient and extraordinary in the world, for decades they have attracted the attention of scholars, men and women of letters and artists of renown, indeed, it was here that Mel Gibson filmed "The Passion of the Christ".
In the "Sassi", dwelling places were carved out of the tufa rock and walls constructed using the dug out material. Inhabited right up until recent times, the "Sassi" today are the focus of cultural and tourist-oriented development. Yet in addition to the "Sassi", Matera is also renowned for the way in which the Romanesque and Baroque are uniquely intertwined in the Church of St. Francesco...
This small yet beautiful region bathed by two seas, the Tyrrhenian and Ionian, has many other delights to offer, however.
Greek ruins (Metaponto), medieval churches and castles (Melfi, Lagopesole), amazing beaches (Maratea) and unspoilt natural beauty (Parco del Pollino).
Not to mention Venosa, the birthplace of the Latin poet Horace, where visitors may also come to admire the medieval Abbey of the Holy Trinity.
And lastly, despite its historic centre having been damaged by numerous earthquakes, the regional capital of Potenza with its Archaeological Museum is certainly deserving of a visit.