Italian photographer Lorenzo Vitali has documented a captivating visual journey through the historic Sassi districts of Matera in southern Italy's Basilicata region. His photographic series, titled "The Ascent," explores the unique experience of climbing upward from the depths of these ancient cave dwellings carved into limestone rock formations.
The photographs were taken in the area between Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, two distinctive neighborhoods that occupy deep, cone-shaped depressions in the landscape. These remarkable geological formations have served as home to residential structures since ancient times, with dwellings expertly carved directly into the soft tufa stone over many centuries.
Vitali's work captures the transformative experience of ascending from the lower depths of the Sassi districts back toward street level. According to the photographer, this upward journey represents a return to light after being immersed in the shadowy depths below. The ascent creates an optical illusion where spaces appear larger than their actual dimensions, offering visitors a dramatically different perspective of these UNESCO World Heritage caves.
The photographer documents how the long, winding uphill path through the Sassi reveals unexpected visual surprises at every turn. Small clearings and narrow alleyways punctuate the route, creating what Vitali describes as "surprising scenarios." His images showcase sudden glimpses of light breaking through the ancient architecture, moments of blinding brightness contrasted with imposing shadows, and sweeping views that highlight the area's dramatic topography.
Throughout his photographic exploration, Vitali emphasizes the tangible presence of the tufa stone that defines Matera's character. This soft volcanic rock has been the foundation for centuries of skilled craftsmanship, as generations of inhabitants have carved and shaped their living spaces directly into the natural landscape. The photographer's work reveals how this ancient building technique has created a unique urban environment where natural and human-made elements blend seamlessly together.
