Matera is one of the two provincial capitals of Basilicata, a region in southern Italy known worldwide for its
Sassi, ancient neighborhoods carved into the rock that represent one of the oldest human settlements still inhabited. The Sassi of Matera, comprising two districts: Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, the first site in southern Italy to receive this recognition.
In 2019, Matera was named European Capital of Culture, the first city in southern Italy to receive this title.