Province of Matera in the context of "Matera"

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⭐ Core Definition: Province of Matera

The province of Matera (Italian: provincia di Matera; Materano: provìngë dë Matàërë) is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Matera. It has an area of 3,447 square kilometres (1,331 sq mi) and a total population of 201,133; the city of Matera has a population of 61,204. The province contains 31 comuni (sg.: comune), listed in the list of comuni of the province of Matera). It is bordered by the province of Potenza in the west and south, the region of Calabria also to the south, the region of Apulia to the east and north, and by the Ionian Sea to the southeast.

The history of settlement in the region dates back to the Palaeolithic Period and the first instance of organised settlement was in 251 BCE, when Roman Republic consul Lucius Caecilius Metellus founded the town as Matera. Matera was sacked multiple times; initially by the Franks, then by Roman Emperor Louis II of Italy, and then by invading Muslims during the 10th century. Following this, the town was owned by the Capetian House of Anjou and the Crown of Aragon and was sold multiple times to successive wealthy families.

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👉 Province of Matera in the context of Matera

Matera (Italian pronunciation: [maˈtɛːra], locally [maˈteːra] ; Materano: Matàrë [maˈtæːrə]) is a city and the capital of the Province of Matera in the region of Basilicata, in Southern Italy. With a history of continuous occupation dating back to prehistory (the eighth millennium BC), it is renowned for its rock-cut urban core, whose twin cliffside zones are known collectively as the Sassi.

Matera lies on the right bank of the Gravina river, whose canyon forms a geological boundary between the hill country of Basilicata (historic Lucania) to the southwest and the Murgia plateau of Apulia to the northeast. The city began as a complex of cave habitations excavated in the softer limestone on the gorge's western, Lucanian face. It took advantage of two streams that flow into the ravine from a spot near the Castello Tramontano, reducing the cliff's angle of drop and leaving a defensible narrow promontory between the streams. The central high ground, or acropolis, supporting the city's cathedral and administrative buildings, came to be known as Civita, and the settlement districts scaling down and burrowing into the sheer rock faces as the Sassi. Of the two streambeds, called the grabiglioni [it], the northern hosts Sasso Barisano (facing Bari) and the southern Sasso Caveoso (facing Montescaglioso).

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Province of Matera in the context of Basilicata

Basilicata (UK: /bəˌsɪlɪˈkɑːtə/ bə-SIL-ih-KAH-tə, US: /-ˌzɪl-/ -⁠ZIL-, Italian: [baziliˈkaːta]), also known by its ancient name Lucania (/lˈkniə/ loo-KAY-nee-ə, US also /lˈkɑːnjə/ loo-KAHN-yə, Italian: [luˈkaːnja]), is an administrative region in Southern Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Apulia to the north and east, and Calabria to the south. It has two coastlines: a 30-kilometre stretch on the Gulf of Policastro (Tyrrhenian Sea) between Campania and Calabria, and a longer coastline along the Gulf of Taranto (Ionian Sea) between Calabria and Apulia. The region can be thought of as "the arch" of "the boot" of Italy, with Calabria functioning as "the toe" and Apulia "the heel".

The region has a population of 529,897 in an area of 10,073.32 km (3,889.33 sq mi). The regional capital is Potenza. The region comprises two provinces: Potenza and Matera. Its inhabitants are generally known as Lucanians (Italian: lucani), and to a lesser extent as basilicatesi or by other very rare terms.

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Province of Matera in the context of Gravina (river)

The Gravina (also called Gravina di Picciano) is a river in the Apulia and Basilicata regions of southern Italy. Its source is near Poggiorsini and the border of the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani in the province of Bari. The river flows southeast near Gravina in Puglia before crossing into the province of Matera. It flows west of Matera before emptying into the Bradano as a left tributary a short distance after the Bradano exits Lago di San Giuliano.

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Province of Matera in the context of Basento

The Basento (Latin Casuentus) is a river in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. It rises at Monte Arioso in the southern Apennine Mountains, southwest of Potenza in the province of Potenza. The river flows northeast near Pignola and Potenza before curving east near Vaglio Basilicata. It curves southeast and flows near Brindisi Montagna, Trivigno, and Albano di Lucania. A right tributary coming from Lago di Ponte Fontanelle flows into the river in this area. The river forms the border between the province of Potenza and the province of Matera for a short distance before flowing into the province of Matera. It flows eastward near Tricarico, Calciano, and Grassano before curving southeast. The river flows near Grottole, Miglionico, Pomarico, Ferrandina, and Monte Finese before curving eastward. It flows near Pisticci and Bernalda before flowing into the Gulf of Taranto, which is part of the Ionian Sea, near Metaponto. The main city on the Basento is Potenza, the capital of Basilicata.

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Province of Matera in the context of Agri River

The Agri is a river in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. In ancient times it was known as Aciris (Ancient Greek: Ἄκιρις, romanizedAkiris). The source of the river is in the Lucan Apennines north of Monte Volturino and west of Calvello in the province of Potenza. It is near the source of the Basento. The river flows south near Paterno before curving southeast. It flows near Tramutola, Viggiano, and Grumento Nova before entering a lake. After exiting the lake, the river flows eastward near Armento, Missanello, Aliano, and Sant'Arcangelo. A right tributary, the Racanello, enters the river in this area. The river forms the border between the province of Potenza and the province of Matera for part of this area of the river. It flows into a small lake before entering the province of Matera. The river flows for a short distance before entering Lago di Gannano. After exiting the lake, the river flows southeast near Tursi, Montalbano Jonico, and Scanzano Jonico before flowing into the Gulf of Taranto near Policoro.

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Province of Matera in the context of List of municipalities of the province of Matera

The following is a list of the 31 municipalities (comuni) of the province of Matera, Basilicata, Italy.

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Province of Matera in the context of Altopiano delle Murge

The Altopiano delle Murge (Italian for 'plateau of the Murge') is a karst topographic plateau of rectangular shape in southern Italy. Most of it lies within the region of Puglia and corresponds with the sub-region known as Murgia or Le Murge, within the adminsiatrive area of the Metropolitan City of Bari, the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, the provinces of Brindisi and Taranto to the south, and the Matera in the region of Basilicata to the west. The name is believed to originate from the Latin: murex, meaning 'sharp stone'.

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Province of Matera in the context of Metapontum

Metapontum or Metapontium (Ancient Greek: Μεταπόντιον, romanizedMetapontion) was an ancient city of Magna Graecia, situated on the gulf of Tarentum, between the river Bradanus and the Casuentus (modern Basento). It was distant about 20 km from Heraclea and 40 from Tarentum. The ruins of Metapontum are located in the frazione of Metaponto, in the comune of Bernalda, in the Province of Matera, Basilicata region, southern Italy.

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Province of Matera in the context of Bradano

The Bradano is a river in the Basilicata and Apulia regions of southern Italy. Its source is Lago Pesole (which is near Forenza and Filiano) in the province of Potenza. The river flows southeast near Monte Torretta, Acerenza, and Oppido Lucano. After crossing into the province of Matera, it is joined by a right tributary, the Alvo. The river flows near Irsina before being joined by a left tributary, the Basentello. Shortly after that, it is joined by another right tributary, the Bilioso. The river then enters Lago di San Giuliano. After flowing out of the lake, the Bradano is joined by a left tributary, the Gravina, and flows southeast near Montescaglioso before entering the province of Taranto. It is then joined by a left tributary, the Gravina di Matera, before re-entering the province of Matera after a short distance. The river flows near the border with the province of Taranto before entering the Gulf of Taranto near Lido di Metaponto.

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