Casa Cava

Useful Information

Location:	Via San Pietro Barisano, 47, Sasso Barisano, 75100 Matera (40.671226, 16.609605)
Open:	All year daily 10-13, 15-18. [2021]
Fee:	Adults EUR 3, Children (0-14) free, FAI Members EUR 2. Groups (): School Pupils EUR 1.50, with licensed tour guide EUR 2. [2021]
Classification:	Rock Mine,
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Casa Cava, Via San Pietro Barisano, 47, Sasso Barisano, 75100 Matera, Tel: +39-0835-336733. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1993	inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Description

Casa Cava is an underground multipurpose cultural center. It has a size of 900 m² consisting of ten rooms, including an auditorium for 140 people. The auditorium with its irreegular form and weird aesthetics is the symbol of Matera's historical and cultural rebirth. The caverns are a former tuff quarry, then abandoned and used as a landfill- The structure was dug as a quarry for stone ashlars for buildings in Matera. The transformation into a center for youth creativity is quite impressive and was published in international architecture magazines.

Casa Cava is called the only underground cultural center in the world. While we convinced that there are other underground cultural centers - and we have listed them on showcaves.com - we are aware that underground cultural centers are definitely rare and exceptional. The center may be booked for all kinds of events and functions and also offers catering. It also offers an online presale service for events and a pickup service for the guests, which is quite important as the number of parking lots is quite restricted in the area. The rooms are equipped with audio and video systems and can be used for conferences and presentations.