Tour Italia with Theresa: The Magic of Matera

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

The Magic of Matera

Traveling south to discover my roots I visited Matera, the former capital of the Basilicata region in southern Italy. The region's current capital is the city of Potenza, but unless that is your last name and you are motivated by personal curiosity, Matera is far more worth your time. It may no longer be Basilicata's capital but it just received the award for European Capital of Culture. It is the oldest continually inhabited city in Italy and a land of crossroads. The deep history and diversity of its people is reflected in its mysterious caves.

The cave church of Santa Maria d' Idris with Renaissance frescos inside

Please see my recent travel article featuring Matera for Wanted in Rome magazine - article link

The "sassi" cave district in the heart of Matera

Matera cave district at night

2 comments:

AnonymousFebruary 10, 2016 at 5:15 PM
What do you think makes this the European Capital of culture?
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Theresa in ItalyFebruary 14, 2016 at 11:15 AM
Please read my article linked in the blog published in Wanted in Rome magazine. Several paragraphs are dedicated to the European Commission and the competition.
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LIST OF THERESA'S TOURS

*For more information on tours visit my website - tourwiththeresa

The VATICAN

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica

The VATICAN Behind-the-Scenes

St. Peter's Basilica and behind-the-scenes visit to the prestigious mosaic workshop and gallery.

Ancient Rome

The Coliseum, San Clemente archaeological area, Circus Maximus, overview of Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

The Birth of Rome

Circus Maximus racetrack, Palatine Hill, Medieval churches with underground ruins, ancient temples along the river banks in the city's ancient commercial marketplace, parts of the historic and charming Jewish Ghetto, Tiber island and Capitol Hill.

City Highlights

Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Piazza del Popolo, and the best latent ruins, fountains and unique churches of the historic center.

Appian Way

Mysterious underground Christian catacomb of San Callisto, mile markings along Rome's oldest road the Appian Way, Fosse Ardeatine World War II memorial site, ancient Aurelian Walls and inside the fortification gate of St. Sebastian.

Family-style Italian dinner

and cooking demonstration

Home-cooked typical Italian dinner made up of several courses from archival family recipes accompanied with a cooking demonstration in “Mamma’s Casa”, the kitchen of a Roman family located in the affluent residential neighborhood of Parioli.

The Mysterious Etruscans

at the Villa Giulia
Villa Giulia National Etruscan Museum, housed in a Renaissance Villa with thousands of Etruscan materials such as bronzes and pottery, as well sarcophagi and tomb re-installments with fine fresco paintings.

Borghese Gallery
The best of Italian 17th Century masterpieces including Caravaggio and Bernini, hundreds of antiquities, a Baroque palace, and a grande public park

Etruscan day trip-Ceverteri

Traveling with a private driver, journey 30 miles north of Rome to the Bandidaccia necropolis in the city of Cerveteri, the largest burial site in the Mediterranean. Tour an extensive collection of unique tombs modeled on and decorated as domestic architecture lined along routes designed as a city plan. Include also the option to dine along the seaside in a Renaissance palace La Posta Vecchia, built on top of the Etruscan port.

Wine excursion-Tuscany

Journey by car a couple of hours outside the bustle of Rome into the landscape of Tuscany. Witness rolling hills, manicured vineyards and stop for wine tastings and cultural visits in a couple picturesque Medieval Tuscan cities, such as San Gimignano and Siena.

Villas of Tivoli

Journey 20 miles outside Rome with a private driver and discover 2 of most spectacular and well maintained villas from the Renaissance and antiquity. First tour the beautifully manicured Renaissance gardens of Villa D'Este and saunter down the lane of 100 fountains. Then visit hundreds of acres of Hadrian's Villa meant to be the emperor's refuge from the bustle of Rome that now serves as yours while you get lost in a series of ruins of bath complexes, temples, and residences.

Scavenger Hunt for kids-"Safari d'Arte"

Designed for curious elementary aged kids, covering several different itineraries including main city highlights, while participating in an interactive scavenger hunt searching for clues at each main attraction with book and map in hand.

*Also consider any customized tour you can imagine focusing on the specifics of Ancient, Renaissance, and Baroque Rome.

Tour Italia with Theresa

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Wednesday, October 28, 2015

The Magic of Matera

2 comments: