Matera to host international balloon fest

ROME- Hot air balloons from all over the world will be drifting in Matera’s skies when the third annual balloon festival, also the first international one ever in Italy, comes to the UNESCO World Heritage Site from October 8 to 11.

 Visitors to the prestigious event will have the opportunity to experience an enchanting journey over the southern ‘City of Stones’ and land in the nearby Murgia Park, an expanse of land carved with deep canyons and towering cliffs. The parks boasts of a series of exquisite caves, homes made of tuff, and churches sculpted from the rocky terrain.

 Twenty crews of air balloons from all over Europe will take part in the festival, which has been organised by the Matera City Council, the Regional Government of Basilicata, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Matera- Basilicata 2019 Foundation.

 For those who like to stay firmly planted on the ground, the festival will offer a four-day programme of events for locals and tourists alike which will aim to promote sport and cultural activities, and will include the local community. Such attractions include the amusing Iglú de Vent, and new installations made from the used sails of hot air balloons, designed by artists from Igualda in northeast Spain.

 The world-famous caves and churches will also be open to everyone, which were film locations for Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.

 The festival also aims to tantalise the taste buds in collaboration with Slow Food, an eco-gastronomic organisation which combats fast food culture. In the Stones area and Murgia Park, cooking presentations will be held along with “Flavour Laboratories” which will offer the very best of Lucanian culinary tradition.

 Also to be expected is a spectacular closing night, when hot air balloons will take to the sky after sunset to put on a dazzling light show in time with a beautiful soundtrack as part of the “Night Glow” presentation.

 Organisers claim that this festival will be “the most sustainable and without barriers event” the city has seen, with the festival goers having full access around the rocky landscape to fully appreciate the city’s artistic and natural heritage, which also won its bid for European City of Culture 2019.