Matera Magic

Buongiorno!
Today we head south to Matera, the honey-colored city carved into rock where doorways open straight into history. We’ll wander the Sassi, learn a new snack-worthy word, and cozy up with a farmhouse soup that tastes like Basilicata sunshine.

Today’s Place

Matera & the Sassi cave districts - ancient cave dwellings turned culture capital.

• Sunrise lights the limestone like a movie set (because… it often is).
• The lanes twist, tumble, and suddenly reveal a bell tower or a tiny church in the cliff.
  Learn more: UNESCO - Matera

Bite & Sip

Dish: Crapiata materana - a rustic, late-summer soup of mixed legumes and grains.
Tip: Soak your beans overnight and finish with a peppery drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.
Try it: La Cucina Italiana - Crapiata

Drink: Aglianico del Vulture: Basilicata’s bold, volcanic red with spice and structure.
Sip intel: Wine Folly - Aglianico

Italian Word of the Day

“Sgranocchiare” (zgrah-noh-KYA-reh): to munch or crunch on something.
Esempio: “Passeggiamo tra i Sassi e sgranocchiamo taralli al finocchio.”

Daily Soundtrack

“Caruso” by Lucio Dalla
Listen: Lucio Dalla on Spotify

Shop the Look

Facciamo Così: Shop the Collection

If You Go

Wear grippy shoes; polished stone can be slick after rain. For hours, tickets, and current exhibits, check Matera’s official pages via UNESCO or the local tourist office.
More info: UNESCO Matera

Follow us @facciamocosi: Instagram