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The Cave House of vico Solitario

The Cave House of vico Solitario — Matera, Italia.

Vico Solitario, 11, 75100 Matera MT, Italia ★★★★☆ 552 views
Giovanna Pascoli
Matera
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About The Cave House of vico Solitario

The Cave House of vico Solitario - Matera | Secret World Trip Planner

The visit to the Casa Grotta di vico Solitario is a great opportunity to understand the standard of living in the houses excavated in the Sasso Caveoso before their abandonment, which took place following the law of restoration of the Sassi wanted by the president of the council Alcide De Gasperi in 1952. A large rocky cavity frames the entrance arch of the Casa Grotta, the only built element leaning against the cave in which the house was built; the last modifications of the prospectus date back to 1700. The peculiarities of the house are: the fireplace with the area used as a kitchen, in the center of the house a small table with the only large plate from which everyone ate, the bed consists of two iron trestles, on which rest wooden planks and the bed consists of a mattress filled with corn leaves; in front of the bed, the stable with the manger that housed the mule; beyond a small partition, there was the other stable with the manger, the tufa quarry from which the blocks of tufa were obtained and a circular cavity used as a dunghill or as a deposit for straw. Of particular interest is the system for collecting rainwater from outside; the canalisation and the cistern are clearly visible. In the rooms adjacent to the Casa Grotta there is an ancient snow-house, a suggestive natural cave and a rock church dating back to the 9th - 10th century AD.

The Cave House of vico Solitario - Matera | Secret World Trip Planner
The Cave House of vico Solitario - Matera | Secret World Trip Planner
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Suggested itinerary near The Cave House of vico Solitario

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  1. 🌅
    Morning
    The Cave House of vico Solitario
    📍 Matera
  2. ☀️
    Afternoon
    Matera, San Pietro Caveoso
    📍 0.1 km · Matera
  3. 🌆
    Evening
    The rock church of Santa Maria de Armenis
    📍 0.2 km · Matera

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Frequently Asked Questions

The house features authentic period furnishings including a central fireplace used as a kitchen, a shared dining table with one large plate for the family, iron trestle beds with corn leaf mattresses, and a mule stable with manger directly adjacent to the living space. You'll also see a sophisticated rainwater collection system with visible canalization and cistern, demonstrating how residents managed resources in this cave dwelling.
The house was abandoned in 1952 following a restoration law for the Sassi district initiated by Italian President of the Council Alcide De Gasperi. This law marked a significant turning point in the history of Matera's cave dwellings, as residents were relocated from these ancient homes to modern housing.
The house represents the standard of living conditions in Sasso Caveoso before its abandonment, with the last modifications to the entrance arch dating back to 1700. Visiting this preserved cave house provides invaluable insight into how families lived in these carved dwellings for centuries before relocation.
Adjacent to the Casa Grotta, visitors can explore an ancient snow-house, a suggestive natural cave, and a rock church dating back to the 9th-10th century AD. These nearby structures offer additional context to the broader historical and cultural significance of the Sasso district.
The house is built within a large rocky cavity with only the entrance arch being a constructed element leaning against the cave, showcasing how residents ingeniously utilized natural rock formations. The ingenious design includes separate animal stables, a tufa quarry for building materials, and a sophisticated water management system, all carved or built within the single cave structure.