“Matera…. south of Eboli. Photographs by Victoria Troiani” is the title of an exhibition hosted by the Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) of Buenos Aires from Feb. 29 to Mar. 8. The event coincides with Matera’s designation as European Capital of Culture 2019 (together with Plovdiv) and the annual meeting of the regional committee of “Lucanians of the World”. The exhibition, as reported by the Institute’s website, comprises photographs of the city of Matera, in Basilicata region, and offers a journey through its geography and history. In particular, Victoria Troiani’s shots focus on Matera’s historic centre, the Sassi (Stones), a spectacular complex of buildings carved out of the rock, which received UNESCO recognition as a World Heritage Site in 1993.
“Matera…. south of Eboli. Photographs by Victoria Troiani”
Today the Sassi, with their rock churches characterized by Byzantine frescoes and a dreamlike atmosphere, attract visitors from around the world who come to admire a unique landscape and discoverer local traditions. Matera was named European Capital of Culture on Sept. 13 2015. The acknowledgement was created in 1985 to promote awareness of the historical, artistic and cultural development of EU member states. Athens was the first city to receive it, while Italy was represented by Florence in 1986, Bologna in 2000 and Genoa in 2004. The title is currently assigned in turn to two European Union member countries. This year the choice fell on San Sebastian (Spain) and Wroclaw (Poland). In 2017 it will be the turn of Aarhus (Denmark) and Paphos (Cyprus), while in 2018 it will be Leeuwarden (Netherlands) and La Valletta (Malta).
