Matera, European Capital of Culture 2019

In 2019, Matera was proclaimed the European Capital of Culture, becoming the beating heart of Mediterranean creativity and identity. This prestigious recognition represented a historic moment for the city, which became a symbol of cultural rebirth and social innovation.

Through hundreds of international events, art installations, shows, and exhibitions, Matera told the world its uniqueness: the Sassi, a UNESCO heritage site, served as a stage for a new vision of culture, made of participation, memory, and future.

The year 2019 was not just a celebration, but a turning point. Today, Matera continues to be an open-air laboratory where history meets creativity, and where every visitor is invited to discover, explore, and be inspired.