A proposal to call a popular referendum that would see Matera become part of Puglia has been made. Matera is the jewel of the neighbouring Basilicata region, though its proximity to Bari often results in travel guides and writers referencing Matera as part of Puglia.
This is not the first time such a call has been made. Moving the city into the better known Puglia region is a recurring issue. However the backers of the proposal – two former Italian senators – indicates a serious intent this time around.
The issue is likely to cause much controversy in Basilicata, given Matera’s profile, popularity and the income it generates for the region. If the process were to go ahead, any referendum would take almost 8 months to get to the polls.
