June 8th- Taranto, Italy and Matera

June 8th-Taranto, Italy & the cave city of Matera

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Today is a full day tour which includes a 1 1/2 hour bus ride to Matera,  a UNESCO town of cave habitation. We were told that this was going to be a strenuous walk up & down many steps which are sometimes slippery & have no handrails. I'm sure they were trying to "scare" off those who might not be able to handle it...      http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/basilicata/matera.html

The first cave dwellings here were occupied 15-20,000 years ago. One side of the ravine has been abandoned but the other side (the side we are visiting) is where the town grew also from caves. We visited one of the cave houses that's been furnished as it would have been 1500 years ago (pictures are attached). The donkey always had their spot inside the cave house. We also visited one of the cave churches (there are over 100 here).  This church with ancient frecoes became a wool factory & then a private home. Many of the ancient homes have now been abandoned & are now owned by the Italian government  The houses are built into the ground as caves and there are more houses or a street on top of them. Above the churches nothing is allowed to be built but above the church we visited was a cemetery. 

The kitchen area

The family donkey would have had their own place inside

We did a lot of walking up & down and then finally ended up at Cantine della Bruno Cave Restaurant for a leisurely Italian lunch ( we were reminded ahead of time that the Italians don't rush lunch!) (& yes, it was in a cave!).  We arrived to tables with plenty of water and local red wine! First we were given lovely antipasti plates with fresh burrata mozzarella, then a homemade pasta, then lamb chops pomme frites. We ended with a slice of vanilla/chocolate gelato and an espresso.  Fantastic!!!! We sat next to a very nice Austrian couple from our cruise. Delightful!

Antipasti plate

(... Ok, now on bus riding back to Taranto & the museum. I can report that as far as I'm concerned, yesterday's tall stairs were more strenuous!   If you are ever at the south of Italy, come visit Matera!!!)

Before we went back to the ship, the next stop was the Taranto Archaelogical Museum which was quite interesting but not yet complete. We saw many mosaics that were covered & still crated in preparation to being displayed in the museum.

We pulled out of port at 6:30 and were on our way to Lipari...