Province of Matera
| Province of Matera | |
|---|---|
| Province | |
 Map highlighting the location of the province of Matera in Italy |
|
| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Basilicata |
| Capital(s) | Matera |
| Comuni | 31 |
| Government | |
| • President | Franco Stella |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,447 km2 (1,331 sq mi) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 203,627 |
| • Density | 59/km2 (150/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 75100 |
| Telephone prefix | 0835 |
| Vehicle registration | MT |
| ISTAT | 077 |
The province of Matera (Italian: Provincia di Matera ) is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Matera. It has an area of 3,447 square kilometres (1,331 sq mi) and a total population of 201,133;[1] the city Matera has a population of 56,204. There are 31 comunes (Italian: comuni) in the province (see Comunes of the Province of Matera). The province of Matera is bordered by the province of Potenza in the west and south, the region of Calabria also to the south, and it is bordered by the Ionian Sea to the east.[2]
The history of settlement in the region dates back to the Palaeolithic Period and the first instance of organised settlement was in 251 BCE, when Roman Republic consul Lucius Caecilius Metellus founded the town as Matera.[2] Matera was sacked multiple times; initially by the Franks, then by Roman Emperor Louis II of Italy, and then by invading Muslims during the 10th century. Following this, the town was owned by the Capetian House of Anjou and the Crown of Aragon and was sold multiple times to successive wealthy families.[2]
Giovanni Carlo Tramontano, Count of Matera was briefly leader of the city but was despised by the residents, who saw him as tyrannical and rebelled against him, murdering Tramontano on 29 December 1514.[2] The city Matera was announced to be the capital of ancient district Lucania (Basilicata) in 1663; this status was removed from the city in 1806 and 1860. Under the Fascist rule of Italy, the title of Matera serving as the capital of Basilicata was restored in 1927.[2] The province is known for its history of "cave dwellings" known as sassi.[2]
Communes
The main comunes by population are:
| Commune | Population |
|---|---|
| Matera | 59,265 |
| Pisticci | 17,834 |
| Policoro | 15,447 |
| Bernalda | 12,079 |
| Montescaglioso | 10,108 |
| Ferrandina | 9,293 |
| Montalbano Jonico | 7,848 |
| Scanzano Jonico | 6,942 |
| Nova Siri | 6,576 |
| Tricarico | 6,080 |
| Grassano | 5,630 |
| Irsina | 5,540 |
| Tursi | 5,362 |
| Stigliano | 5,314 |
| Cirigliano | 451 |
References
External links
- Provincia di Matera homepage (in Italian)
- Documentary Film about the Sassi di Matera, Roba Forestiera, 44 min., 2004
- Sassi di Matera PHOTO TOUR
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