Province of Matera

Matera's culinary soul is shaped by its dramatic landscape, where fewer than 190,000 residents inhabit a territory stretching from its famous stone-carved capital to stark clay ravines. This unique terrain yields 12 protected denominations across 31 municipalities. The province’s identity thrives on stark contrasts: the ghostly silence of abandoned Craco overlooks valleys of durum wheat, while the fertile soils of Tursi produce sweet, sun-drenched strawberries. Nowhere else in Italy does the ancient cave-dwelling baking heritage of Matera DOC hills transition so abruptly into coastal, sea-breezed fruit orchards.