Matera to bid for Europe Culture Capital

(ANSA) - Rome, October 17 - The southern Italian city of Matera was picked Friday as Italy's candidate to become European Culture Capital 2019.
    The Basilicata tourist mecca, famed for its UNESCO-listed 'Sassi' City of Stone that has formed the backdrop to several films including The Passion of the Christ, will be up against Plovdid in Bulgaria, the only other candidate to be unveiled so far.
    Matera beat Cagliari, Lecce, Perugia-Assisi, Ravenna and Siena to become Italy's bidder.