Travel Guide Parc Des Eglises Rupestres

The powerful phenomenon of monasticism, which has been present in the East since the century and enriched by the contribution of the Byzantine and Benedictine monks, has facilitated the appearance, in the territory near Matera, of numerous hermitages, cave churches, laures and monasteries. The region has approximately 155 of these buildings. This part of eastern Basilicata presents itself as a zone of high plains, fractured by the gravine (crevices) and the small caves dug in the tufa, specific to the region. Since 1978, an archaeological park of the rock churches (Parco archeologico storico naturale della Murgia e delle chiese rupestri del Materano) has been a collection and protection of these religious monuments of priceless artistic value. You can reach Matera by the Strada Romea SS -7 towards Laterza.