Magical Matera: A City Carved by Time

MATERA IN ITALY HASN'T JUST PRESERVED ITS PAST, IT HAS TRANSFORMED IT

- SANJNA THAKERIA

DANIEL CRAIG SPRINTED ACROSS THE Sassi, motorbikes weaving past him.

I smiled at the memory of the opening chase of "No Time to Die," as I stood in Matera, Italy, against the backdrop of sun-warmed limestone houses rising from the cliffs. Below me, scooters threaded through the streets, while beyond, the Gravina Canyon stretched into silence. In an instant, the city's magic unveiled itself, sublimely converging history, cinematic drama, and quiet luxury.

Matera may dazzle on screen, but its story runs far deeper. The Sassi districts—Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso—stretch like a labyrinth of winding stairways, secret courtyards, and ochre-hued cave dwellings inhabited since the Palaeolithic era. Once labelled the “shame of Italy” for its poverty and neglect, this ancient region was rediscovered by artists, musicians, and filmmakers who revealed its enduring charm and cultural significance. Their vision transformed public perception, recasting Matera as a city of resilience, artistry, and lived history.

In 1993, UNESCO recognised this revival, inscribing the Sassi as a World Heritage Site. Today, the local traditions and quiet strength of its people feel as enduring as its stone foundations. Walking through its alleys, one senses a place that is simultaneously timeless and continually reinventing itself.

That balance of past and present is clearest at the city’s highest point, where the 13th-century Matera Cathedral glows in the late-afternoon light. From its steps, the Sassi stretches like a sea of stone, the Gravina canyon opening wide beyond. And in that moment, Matera feels eternal—a city where time is not just preserved but lived.

SLEEPING IN STONE