Dirt-poor of the policy, forget the southern Italian city a long time led a lonely existence. But this has changed. The European capital of culture enchanted with ancient history and new ideas.
“I’ve never beheld such a picture of misery,” wrote the author, painter and doctor Carlo Levi about Matera and helped the city to its unpleasant glory. In his novel “Christ stopped at Eboli” (1945) reported Levi of his time in the South of Italy. And Matera is located behind Eboli.
As the opposition Levi of the fascist Regime was taken of Mussolini and a political prisoner in the Region of Basilicata relegated to that area of Matera. In his famous book, he describes the harsh and barren landscape, where shepherds live with their families and animals in caves without running water and electricity, lack of medical care, isolated from the Rest of the world.
His novel is to be read in schools, Matera for many for the “shame of Italy”. This Image wanted to take the city – and she has, too: in 1993, you will be appointed a UNESCO world heritage site, in 2019, it is next to Plovdiv-European capital of culture.
The new Image of the city
Matera is one of the oldest cities in Europe; you can look back on a 8000-year history. The inhabitants – farmers and shepherds lived in cave dwellings, known as Sassi (“stones”). A complex of houses, churches and monasteries, built in the rocks. After the Second world war, a new city district to be built – and the people there will be relocated.
The cave settlements are a world heritage site and popular travel destination
The cave settlements become discovered to the tourism industry. In the meantime, they have been converted into luxury hotels, and annually attract travelers from all over the world. From 2011 to today, has quadrupled, according to Paolo Verri, Director of the Foundation “Matera 2019” for the capital of culture programme in charge, the number of tourists. However, mass tourism wool to prevent the small town at any price:
“This increase has surprised us and frightened. So, we have developed a strategy, which could also be in other cities, which suffer from mass tourism, is helpful. We see the people that come to us, not as tourists, but as ‘temporary citizens’. During your stay in Matera all get a ‘Pass’. The visitors are a part of the city. We want to encourage a dialogue between the people who live here and those who visit the city. We can’t leave the city only to the people, the Airbnb offer, because you could lose your identity.”
No Disneyland
But instead of the accommodation platform and its customer exclude, decided to Paolo Verri and his Team for a different version: “most of The approximately 500 Airbnb providers work in partnership with us together on the project ‘preliminary Mitbürge’. We invite the tourists to stay only in the cave city, but also to explore the other parts of the city. Five tourists have been developed, for example, you have the opportunity to experience Matera in the 1930s, or in other eras. We want to expand the city and create new opportunities.”
Paolo Verri, Director of the Foundation “Matera 2019”
It was also discussed long and hard about whether an entrance fee for day visitors was an adequate antidote to the mass tourism. The occasion was the decision of Venice, this measure will introduce. But Paolo Verri, is skeptical: “I don’t want to, that cities are only for rich people. And on the other hand, I don’t want to, that Matera is Disneyland.” That’s why you put on your new concept: “preliminary mitbürge partnership”.
Matera’s “Open Future”
The Motto of the capital of culture Matera is “the Open Future”. Will be looking for answers to the question of how culture can help to lead Europe to a better future. “Matera can be a role model for small towns in the South of Europe. We have opened the Open Design School and have received a lot of new ideas for the design of the city. We have started to create new places for visitors,” explains Paolo Verri.
Matera’s lights – a picturesque view of the churches of Santa Maria de Idris and San Giovanni in Monterrone, Matera
The preparations for the big celebrations are in full swing: in The evening of the 18th. January will light the inhabitants of Matera’s traditional lanterns. There are eight exhibitions by eight artists to follow. The next day, exactly 2019 musicians from all over the world will come together and through the streets of Matera.
“2019 is an important year for the European Union. We have the Brexit in March, the European Parliament elections in may. We want to make a contribution to the future of Europe – and by culture,” says Paolo Verri. Florence (1986), Bologna (2000) and Genoa (2004), Matera is already the fourth Italian culture capital of Europe.