The Caves of Villaggio Saraceno

The name of the Villaggio Saraceno complex is passed down through oral tradition, though some sources consider it reliable that the area was once owned by the noble Saraceno family.

Located in the Parco della Murgia Materana, about 6 km south-southeast of Matera, this complex consists of seventy caves carved into a valley tributary of the Gravina di Matera. The site provides evidence of the early stages of urbanization in the Sassi di Matera, showing caves that face the valley directly. The facades of the caves and the valley floor paving were created later using leftover material from excavations intended to expand the available space.

The caves served as a refuge for farmers, shepherds, and their herds. Many of these caves were used as sheepfolds until the final decades of the 20th century, and traces of the ancient presence of shepherds can still be found today.

Among the seventy caves, three are notable places of worship: San Luca alla Selva, the Church of San Nicola al Saraceno, and the Cripta del Vitisciulo, which was later converted into a stable. San Luca alla Selva is accessible via a path and is hidden by bushes. Its irregular-shaped crypt is entirely carved into the rock and contains a baptismal font, a chapel with traces of frescoes, and an altar with a bas-relief cross and a small dome-shaped excavation above it.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons