Matera’s history dates back thousands of years, making it one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities.
The city’s most iconic feature is the Sassi di Matera, a collection of cave dwellings carved into the rocky cliffs of the Gravina River gorge. These dwellings have been inhabited since the Paleolithic era, and some are believed to be over 9,000 years old. Throughout its history, Matera has faced its fair share of challenges, including poverty and overcrowding. However, it has also seen periods of prosperity and cultural growth. Today, Matera is a thriving city that has embraced its ancient heritage while modernizing for the future.
If spirituality entices you along with meditative chants and riveting discussions with monks and nuns fascinate you, monasteries are your peaceful retreats. Housing monks and nuns, monasteries are a place to live in seclusion where the inhabitants explore faith. An array of religions has monasteries, including Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, where the people who chose this path believe in living humbly. The Greek root meaning of the term “monastery” itself signifies living alone. Not everyone can adopt such a lifestyle, albeit experiencing it for a while can bestow peace to the soul. This is a guide to remote monasteries on earth.