The natural-historical Archaeological Park of the Rupestrian churches of Matera, also called the Park of the Murgia Matera, Basilicata is a regional park, established in April 1990. Since 2007 the definition Sassi di Matera in the UNESCO World Heritage list was expanded comprehending the Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian churches of Matera. Basilicata region established the Park of the Murgia Matera in 1990 with the aim to protect, recover and enhance the Murgia Materana area, interested by the presence of prehistoric archaeology and history, and to protect and enhance the habitat and heritage rock churches found in the municipalities of Matera and Montescaglioso. The managing body of the Park was established by regional law on January 7, 1998 based in Matera. The Park is located at the eastern end of the Basilicata region, near the border with Puglia.