Is Matera´s crumbling beauty ready for its year in Europe´s cultural sun?
(The Guardian Italy)

Roads and venues remain unbuilt as the southern Italian city struggles to be the 2019 capital of cultureWhen the southern Italian city of Matera found out it had been selected as the 2019 European capital of culture, its ancient streets echoed with cheers. Thousands gathered in October 2014 to watch the announcement live from Brussels in a central piazza. `It reminded me of the day when Napoli announced it had acquired Diego Maradona,` said Daniele Kihlgren, an Italian-Swedish businessman who has invested in a hotel in Matera. `The same uproar was heard throughout the town.`But the euphoria was quickly replaced by a sense of anxiety. `After the celebrations,` said Eustachio Nicoletti, Matera´s secretary for Italy´s largest labour union, the CGIL, `people began to wonder, `and what the hell are we going to do now?´` Continue reading...