Top 20 Caves 몬테스카글리오소 주변

The southern Italian city of Matera is impressive and attractive, but at the same time also mysterious and a bit rough. It looks more like a labyrinth of stone houses, steep staircases and narrow streets. The Sassi di Matera, or Stones of Matera, is full of caves that were once inhabited and were therefore a disgrace to Italy. Times have changed suddenly, and today the Sassi di Matera are the pride not only of the city, but also of the entire Basilicata region, in which Matera is located.

Grotta Croce, located in Gravina di Laterza, is one of the many karst caves in this suggestive canyon in Puglia. Famous for its natural beauty and historical interest, the cave offers spectacular limestone formations. Explored by speleology enthusiasts and hikers, it is part of the Terra delle Gravine Natural Park, an area rich in biodiversity and characterized by deep ravines and hidden caves. Grotta Croce also has archaeological value, with finds that testify to human presence in ancient times.

Inserted in the complex agro-pastoral rock village of Tre Ponti, the church was erroneously known until recently, with the name of San Pietro in Principibus. The plan is square with four central pillars and three apses. The façade has collapsed but you can admire the accurate workmanship of the arches, apses and pillars. In the rear room, excavated after the church was abandoned, there are graffiti depicting various figures including doves, quadrupeds and a soldier. To the left of the church, a stone enclosure protects an ancient rock apiary mentioned in two documents from 1536 and 1537 in which the area in question is mentioned: “un apiculare situ in gravina Sancti Elia, iuxta loco dicti Iacobi, et iuxta Ecclesiam di S.Elia ab alio latere” (apiary located in the ravine of Sant’Elia, near the cave of said Iacobo, and near the church of Sant’Elia on the other side). The church of Sant’Elia referred to is in fact located in the caves opposite, beyond the uphill road. Beyond the arched entrance to the church are two arcosolium tombs and various graffito crosses are engraved on the walls. The environment has been extensively remodeled, having inside it a manger and a ceiling drain. Discover our Basilicata by bike on www.viaggiatorelento.com

An excellent, very realistic reconstruction of life inside the cave dwellings of Matera.

Worth the few euros

Be sure to walk down through the valley

In the Belvedere di Murgia Timone area, one of the first rock churches you come across as you climb towards the top of the rock park.

the characteristic rock church Madonna delle Vergini, one of the best known in Matera, just outside the city. Also worth admiring are the caves around and the wonderful view of the ancient city.