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The Italian City That Went From Shame to Showpiece
How a once-impoverished cave city became one of Europe’s most extraordinary destinations
AI and photo filters can transform even the most dilapidated streets of Gotham City’s Narrows neighborhood into a postcard-perfect destination.
Glossy tourism photos tease travelers to a city’s doorstep, only to disappoint them with reality once they arrive.
And then there’s Matera, an ancient city in southern Italy’s Basilicata region that photo filters refuse to alter because they would ruin the city’s beauty, a beauty she skillfully hides beneath centuries of weather-worn history.
From afar, Matera looks spectacular, perched on multiple levels, crowned with a church steeple like the angel on a Christmas tree. But on closer inspection, she’s not so pretty.
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If Matera had a homeowner’s association, every house within its borders would receive a nastygram asking the owners to pressure clean their roofs.
But once they accept the invitation to climb the maze of stairs she calls streets, even the strictest condo commando would be silenced into admiration.
