Matera
Sometimes a movie scene is shot in such a stunning place that it sends you down a rabbit hole. Hunting the actual location and logging it in your memory under the label: “I need to visit this!”. On our last day in Sicily we met a young Brazilian couple, that lived in Buenos Aires, and were on a mission to see the actual locations from the Godfather movies (which unbeknownst to us were just around the corner). They had their own mini scouting quest, and coincidentally, on the same day, I was pushing for ours. A place called Matera. Conveniently only a short detour on our way to Bari.
Matera’s historic center is unique and full of intrigue. It has appeared in various Italian and International movies, from classical directors like Passolini and Rosselini, and less classical, like Mel Gibson. It is ideal for period dramas and historical settings.
Yet, I got introduced to it by James Bond. With bullets flying and a high-speed chase through that same historic center. He had “No Time to Die®”, and we had “Some Time to Kill™”.
Through heat, relentless Italian drivers, and a few hours to spare. I convinced Yana that it would be worth a stop. And it was. After we managed to pierce the not-so-interesting outer shell of the city and enter its heart. You are taken aback by the initial feeling, of a game-like interconnected maze of buildings. All in a faded limestone color, with a pleasantly entangled mess of levels, cobblestone paths, and hidden alleys. It feels like you are in a real-life Monument Valley.
We enter the labyrinth with a few hours to spare, and suddenly our time has evaporated and we only got to experience just a brief taste of the city and a quick plate of pasta. Putting a mental bookmark.
(spoiler alert)!
Unlike James, we will revisit it!
