Basilicata in October - Matera - Gravina dell'Ofra

There's some dew on the table outside the apartment and some clothes I handwashed seem damper than when I put them out the evening before but the sun is well up when we set off at about quarter to nine to explore the Ofra Gravina. It's just down a dirt track from our accommodation, and then a quick scramble. There's nothing dangerous but shoes with a good sole are better, there's undergrowth to go through and I imagine it could be slippery if it was damp. It's quite a large area, similar to the 'Sassi' of Matera in that these 'rooms' were carved out of the rock along the sides of the long canyon or 'Gravina'. Some were used as dwellings, shelters for animals and some of the caves have built walls, and even some old frescoes left in the 'church'.

There are splendid views over the gravina and it's interesting to walk through them but it's quite hot scrambling about despite the occasional a cool breeze. Back up at the top we walk a little way towards Matera but it's getting on for lunchtime so we decide to head back to the cool of the apartment.

We take it easy, it's Sunday after all. Mid-afternoon we go for a walk in the other direction. There are several paths on top of the gravina and in several places it's easy to go down to visit the caves and caverns. The grotta dei pipistrelli or bat cave is particularly interesting, deeper and darker than other caves. Up at the top of the gravina there's a pleasant cool breeze but it gets hotter when we go down a little, there are lots of caves to visit and even some flowers and bushes which must depend mostly on the nighttime moisture to survive. It's a fascinating environment and we walk a couple of kilometres following the gravina and going up and down to visit different areas until we are blocked by some private land which is fenced off. We aren't very motivated to do the long detour so take the country lane along the top to go back, there's a pleasant breeze and Sunday walkers and runners about and it makes for a relaxing walk back to our accommodation.