Matera

"A scene that was heavily covered by both the phone camera wielding and the film’s trailers is the motorbike jump from the Itinerario Cattedrale, or Via Gradoni Duomo, and up and into the Piazza Duomo; a jump which lands higher than the point from which the run-up begins, and in front of a populated and celebrated Cathedral of Saint Mary della Bruna and Saint Eustace. From the Via S. Gennar, the Via Gradoni Duomo is a gently ascending and lightly stepped pedestrian path which wends its way up towards the Cathedral. To effect the jump, the mildly graded steps had to be covered with a smooth surface for the run up, and a massive ramp was attached to the wall supporting the Piazza Duomo. The ramp was then treated to some CGI wizardry to create the appearance in the film of a monument that Bond sees only as motorway access.

Contrasting violently with the angelic grace of the landing in the Piazza, Bond carves destructively through the throng, halting the meditative spirit of the benedictions. His height of jump and choice of landing zone representing the closest to heaven Bond would ever get, the Cathedral was built in 1203 on the ridge dividing the two Sassi, the highest point in Matera. 

Thoroughly photogenic from all sides, it is the west face against which Bond flies that showcases its Gothic inspired rose window of 16 rays."

Gravina

"The action moves to Gravina for some bridge-based conflicts. Between a rock and a hard place, Bond’s only means of escape is over the bridge and into the troubled waters below. Of strategic position in Roman times, the earlier discussed Appian Way which linked Rome to Brindisi passed right through Gravina. Connecting the two banks of the Gravina River, the Ponte Viadotto Acquedotto Madonna della Stella, to give it its full appellation, was built to allow the crossing of the river and to allow the ‘faithful’ to reach the miraculous church of the Madonna della Stella. At 37 metres high and 90 metres long, either this church must have been the only attraction in the province, or the congregation was entirely made up of the prostrate devoted. Little is known about the date of its original construction. Historical sources date its existence to 1686 but earthquakes in 1722 rendered instability and then collapse. In the middle of the eighteenth century it was reconstructed and upgraded to also afford the transportation of water, bringing the waters of the Sant'Angelo and San Giacomo springs under the city walls and to the people. 

For the film, the aqueduct wall was set dressed. Firstly with the power cables which Bond uses to control his fall as he flies over the edge, and secondly, painted Styrofoam stone blocks in the lower corners between wall and road, which are used to create protection for Bond from the path of an oncoming and murderous car."