Parco della Murgia Materana is one of Italy’s most spectacular rocky landscapes, testifying to the ancient relationship between nature and man. It is in Basilicata, in Matera, just a few kilometres from the Puglia regional border. Since 2007 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Sassi di Matera. The park’s rocks are soft and cliffs, gorges, grottoes and ravines have been carved out which man has used since prehistoric times. Murgia Materana Regional Park’s flora comprises 923 species, i.e. around a sixth of Italy’s and a third of the region’s entire flora patrimony. The symbol of the park is the lesser kestrel, u strjscìgn in dialect, a small bird of prey present in large colonies across the Matera area. On the park’s footpaths or hidden in the Mediterranean maquis, there are porcupines, foxes, beech martens, badgers, hedgehogs, tortoises, wild boar and hares. Wolves have also been sighted. The park comprises the Matera Environmental Education Centre which does awareness raising work on environmental themes and services to promote sustainable tourism in the area. It is based at historic buildings Masseria Radogna and Jazzo Gattini, in the heart of the park. Also to be admired is the imposing and majestic monastic complex dedicated to S.Michele Arcangelo di Montescaglioso built in the 11th century.

The Murgia Park Authority has set aside funds for the creation of an accessible multimedia visit itinerary. These funds have enabled a team of deaf and hearing professionals to be trained which has created a videoguide with films in sign language, narrative voices and subtitles in Italian. The purpose of the guide is to enable all visitors, deaf or hearing, to fully enjoy and learn culturally from a visit to the park and Abbazia di S.Michele Arcangelo di Montescaglioso. The Italian Sign Language guide is available online on the YouTube EnteParcoMatera channel.