Matera is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities
in the world. It is thought to have been settled in the 3rd century BC. It was
variously occupied by Romans, Greeks, Byzantines, etc., over the centuries.
Matera has gained international fame for its ancient
town, the "Sassi di Matera". The Sassi originated in a prehistoric
troglodyte settlement, and these dwellings are thought to be among the first
ever human settlements in what is now Italy.
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