12 Things You Need To Know About The Italian City Where They Are Filming The New James Bond

The City of Caves is calling.

Matera is a tiny city in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. It also just happens to be where they are filming the new James Bond film, No Time To Die.

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Infact, James Bond isn't the first film to be shot there. Mel Gibson's The Passion Of The Christ and 2017's Wonder Woman also filmed scenes in Matera.

I recently made a two-night stop there while travelling around the neighbouring Puglia region and I. FELL. IN. LOVE. Here are some of the reasons why...

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1. The old city is only around four square miles so you can easily explore all the main sites in a day trip if you're limited on time.

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The city's old town is split into two districts, the Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano.

2. But why take just a day when you can relax and really soak in the beauty of the city?

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I'd recommend staying for a night or two just so you can see the city at night time.

3. Matera is known as the "city of caves" as the Sassi were originally inhabited by cave-dwellers nearly 35,000 years ago!

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4. The Sassi di Matera were once known as "the shame of Italy"...

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The history of the city is long and varied, but in 1950 the Italian prime minister, Alcide De Gasperi, visited the city and deemed it a "national disgrace" due to the living conditions that people were faced with in the caves. Families of up to 10 were crammed into tight spaces which they also shared with farm animals with no running water and in squalid conditions.

In 1952 the inhabitants of the Sassi were evacuated out of the old city and into newly built homes on the outskirts. Matera was effectively abandoned until the 1980s when people started to move back in thanks to an initiative to regenerate the historic area.

In 1993 the Sassi were awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO and Matera was named European Capital of Culture in 2019.

You can learn all about the fascinating history of the caves, Matera's people, and its transformation at Casa Noha and Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario.

5. But now lots of the caves have been turned into boutique B&Bs and hotels.

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We stayed in the beautiful Aque Cave, which is based in the Sasso Caveoso area, but there are many other beautiful hotels and B&Bs in the area.

6. One of the city's most impressive sites is the Santa Maria de Idris AKA the 'rock church'.

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The church's construction dates back to the 12TH CENTURY!!!!

7. Like everywhere in Italy, the food and coffee are amazing...

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I ate like a king EVERY. SINGLE. MEAL.

8. AND the Aperol Spritzs are cheap.

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If you fancy one, head to the famous Area 8 bar where Wes Anderson, Joaquin Phoenix and Jason Schwartzman are all said to have frequented when filming in the area.

9. Plus, the gelato is topnotch.

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Head to I Vizi degli Angeli for the best coffee ice cream of your LIFE.

10. Matera has some amazing views. To get the best vantage point to see them, head to one of the city's many belvederes.

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Belvedere translates as "beautiful view" so you know the photo opps will be tip top.

11. One of the best bits of our trip was when we ventured over to the other side of the Matera Gravina gorge.

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We headed over to watch the sunset over the town and we were not disappointed.

Top tip: take mosquito spray if you want to watch sunset at the Belvedere di Murgia Timone.

12. In conclusion, Matera is one of the most beautiful places in the world which you need to visit BEFORE YOU DIE.

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