June 18 - Bari (Matera & Sassi), Italy

 We are now in Bari, Italy. And I can't wait to visit Matera & Sassi

Here are some pictures as we came into port 



And some drive drive-bye pictures of the town,


 Including downtown


My excursion was to Matera and the UNESCO Sassi District
Here are some pictures on our way to Matera. Olive groves everywhere

The upside down funnel-looking homes are called Trulli homes

We passed through the town of Altamura, know for its bread. We didn't stop, but it sure smelled good.

We finally made it to Matera, which is the oldest town in Italy and Europe. It was founded by Roman, Lucius Metellus in 251 BC, who called it Matheola. Aside from Petra, Joran, Matera is the oldest continuously-inhabited settlement in history. The oldest period in human history is the 'Paleolithic period', which was a time when woolly mammoths roamed the earth and the last Ice Age was winding down. This is also when people first settled in Matera.  

Downtown. 

Churches 



This one celebrates the after life, because it is promised to be a better life

The cave settlements of Sassi Di Matera are located in the old town of Matera, which is situated on the steep rocky slopes of the rugged Gravina river valley. Sassi were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Medieval chroniclers called them "mirrors of the starry sky", while the writer Carlo Levi compared them to Dante's funnel-shaped hell.

Old Caves on the hill 

The River, which was actually at the level of the Caves at one time. 

The Town from above 



and inside the town. People still live and work here


And the "Cave House"




Then it was time for lunch and a beer


And of course here are some Cool Structures



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