ITALIAN STYLE WEDDING IN MATERA: one of the 395 world wonders!
by Serena Colavita, WSWS European Wedding Correspondent
by Serena Colavita, WSWS European Wedding Correspondent
I'm going to tell you a real italian style wedding in Matera: a very special city in Basilicata Region.
Isabella & Antonio decided to get married in this very special place as special and unique is their love. Under the italian sky, in a sunny day of June, they said their most important YES for a new life together.
Matera has gained international fame for its "Sassi". The Sassi originate from a prehistoric settlement, and are suspected to be some of the first human settlements in Italy. Matera is the only place in the world where people can boast to be still living in the same houses of their ancestors of 9,000 years ago.....The Sassi of Matera represent the historical centre of the city: the story of this wonderful example of urbanization stopped in 1952 with the evacuation of the Sassi.
The urban structure of these quarters is truly unique: the dwellings are caves, carved into the tufa stone ravine, the Gravina. A breathtaking landscape of intricate cobbled stone alleys and stairs, caverns, genteel buildings, archways, balconies, vegetable gardens and large terraces, crowned by characteristic chimneys and steeples of the numerous rupestral churches.
The layering of the dwellings is in itself astonishing. Equipped with hydraulic channels that feed reservoirs carved deep into the ground, which are able to maintain water cool and drinkable even in the hottest summer periods. Looking at the structure of the Sassi we can clearly see the social and architectural evolution of mankind, from simple dugout shelters, to caves with facades, to the construction of roofs on which to create 'suspended' vegetable gardens; and the evolution of the social structure of a community – human interaction amongst individuals, families, dwellings, neighbourhoods and churches, from rural to urban.
In 1993 UNESCO declared the Sassi of Matera a world heritage site, listing the Sassi of Matera as one of the 395 world wonders. Today the Sassi are full of construction sites, as many dwellings are restructured to become modern day homes in a unique historical site. Today there are many thriving businesses, pubs, and hotels.
The wedding Ceremony was celebrated in San Francesco Church, the first structure of the church dates from the first half of the thirteenth century but the beautiful Baroque front/entrance was built in 1700. ( see 3 pics: n. 5 - 7 - 8 )
The guests enjoyed a beautiful landscape and tasted typical dishes of Basilicata with the most famous wine of the Region the "Aglianico del Volture DOC" a ruby red wine with hints of strawberry and raspberry and dry, fruity and harmonious. And after the wedding dinner...dancing all night long!
Wedding in Italy means unforgettable landscapes, historical locations, good food and good wine, ancient and suggestive traditions!
FOR MORE information on Serena Colavita -
http://www.whitesatinweddingshow.com/serena-colavita---european-wedding-correspondent.html
Photo credits: Marco Scataglini - Lucrezia Argentero
Isabella & Antonio decided to get married in this very special place as special and unique is their love. Under the italian sky, in a sunny day of June, they said their most important YES for a new life together.
Matera has gained international fame for its "Sassi". The Sassi originate from a prehistoric settlement, and are suspected to be some of the first human settlements in Italy. Matera is the only place in the world where people can boast to be still living in the same houses of their ancestors of 9,000 years ago.....The Sassi of Matera represent the historical centre of the city: the story of this wonderful example of urbanization stopped in 1952 with the evacuation of the Sassi.
The urban structure of these quarters is truly unique: the dwellings are caves, carved into the tufa stone ravine, the Gravina. A breathtaking landscape of intricate cobbled stone alleys and stairs, caverns, genteel buildings, archways, balconies, vegetable gardens and large terraces, crowned by characteristic chimneys and steeples of the numerous rupestral churches.
The layering of the dwellings is in itself astonishing. Equipped with hydraulic channels that feed reservoirs carved deep into the ground, which are able to maintain water cool and drinkable even in the hottest summer periods. Looking at the structure of the Sassi we can clearly see the social and architectural evolution of mankind, from simple dugout shelters, to caves with facades, to the construction of roofs on which to create 'suspended' vegetable gardens; and the evolution of the social structure of a community – human interaction amongst individuals, families, dwellings, neighbourhoods and churches, from rural to urban.
In 1993 UNESCO declared the Sassi of Matera a world heritage site, listing the Sassi of Matera as one of the 395 world wonders. Today the Sassi are full of construction sites, as many dwellings are restructured to become modern day homes in a unique historical site. Today there are many thriving businesses, pubs, and hotels.
The wedding Ceremony was celebrated in San Francesco Church, the first structure of the church dates from the first half of the thirteenth century but the beautiful Baroque front/entrance was built in 1700. ( see 3 pics: n. 5 - 7 - 8 )
The guests enjoyed a beautiful landscape and tasted typical dishes of Basilicata with the most famous wine of the Region the "Aglianico del Volture DOC" a ruby red wine with hints of strawberry and raspberry and dry, fruity and harmonious. And after the wedding dinner...dancing all night long!
Wedding in Italy means unforgettable landscapes, historical locations, good food and good wine, ancient and suggestive traditions!
FOR MORE information on Serena Colavita -
http://www.whitesatinweddingshow.com/serena-colavita---european-wedding-correspondent.html
Photo credits: Marco Scataglini - Lucrezia Argentero