Re-inventing underground space in Matera, European Capital of Culture 2019

The site of the Sassi in Matera (UNESCO 1993-European Capital of Culture 2019) originates from a troglodyte village and it is considered to be one of the first human settlements in Italy. The construction of the Sassi reflects the progressive transformation of natural caves into closed caves and then into lamiones. The various levels of these single dwellings has over time created an urban landscape of underground habitations and cisterns, the complexity of whose structure can only be fully appreciated when observed in section. The demographic rise and the socio-economic decline of the area turned these dwellings into the socio-environmental disaster described by Carlo Levi in his work "Christ stopped in Eboli" and under the consequent political pressure, the Sassi were definitively evacuated. Even if cultural tourism is raising positions basing its success on the on the transformation of dismissed private houses into public spaces addressed to tourism , the area has got flourishing and lasting rural traditions linked to underground spaces: olive oil production in underground factories, typical bakery in underground ovens, vines and cheese in underground canteens. Matera is also successfully experiencing "best practice in architecture" by adapting again to residential use dismissed houses in order to invert the gentrification process. The conservation and valorization process of Sassi was based on the reinterpretation of historical underground spaces. Caved hotels de charme, typical restaurants and shops re-used historical caves conserving the narrative role of the historical functions. Dismissed cisterns and pools were opened to the public as water museums, dedicated trekking routes were organized to visit rupestrian churches and a Tibetan bridge was opened to allow a terrific view of the valley and the dismissed extraction Sun's Cave was transformed into an open air arena and a permanent contemporary art exposition.