matera italy tourism

Matera, Basilicata's jewel, may be the world's third-longest continuously inhabited human settlement. Natural caves in the tufa limestone, exposed as the Gravina cut its gorge, attracted the first inhabitants perhaps 7000 years ago. More elaborate structures were built atop them. Today, looking across the gorge to Matera’s huddled sassi (cave dwellings) it seems you've been transported back to the ancient Holy Land.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Chiesa San Pietro Barisano

Dating in its earliest parts to the 12th century, St Peter's, the largest of Matera's rupestrian churches, overlays an ancient honeycomb of niches where…

Palombaro Lungo

This giant cistern, arguably as magnificent as a subterranean cathedral, is one of Matera's great sights. Lying under the city's main square with arches…

Highly recommended as a precursor to visiting the sassi themselves, this wonderful 25-minute multimedia exhibit, spread across three rooms of a 16th…

Chiesa di Madonna delle Virtù & Chiesa di San Nicola del Greci

This monastic complex, one of the most important monuments in Matera, comprises dozens of chambers carved into the tufa limestone over two floors. Chiesa…

Museo della Scultura Contemporanea

The setting of this fabulous museum of contemporary sculpture – deeply recessed caves and the frescoed rooms of the 16th-century Palazzo Pomarici – is as…

For a great photograph of the sassi, take the Taranto–Laterza road (SS7) and follow signs for the chiese rupestri. This road takes you to the Belvedere,…

Set high up on a spur between the two natural bowls of the sassi, the wan, graceful exterior of the 13th-century Pugliese-Romanesque cathedral makes the…

Cripta del Peccato Originale

A fascinating Benedictine site dating to the Lombard period, the Cripta del Peccato Originale (Crypt of Original Sin) houses well-preserved 8th-century…

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This Gorgeous Italian City You Haven't Heard of Has Cave Hotels, Ancient History, and Stunning Views

A trip to Matera, Italy, will take you back in time.

Tucked inside the arch of Italy’s boot, Matera could have easily disappeared into the annals of history — the community was inhabited some 10,000 years before falling into disrepair, and was completely deserted in the 1970s. But, through the sheer force and determination of locals, plus several strategic investments, the long-standing town managed to not just survive, but thrive — in 2019, it was named a European Capital of Culture , and is considered one of the most beautiful places in all of Italy .

Michela Sieman/Travel + Leisure

“After having lived outside Matera for twelve years, on my return, the perception of my territory had completely changed,” Antonio Russo, a tour guide who grew up just outside Matera’s borders, shared with Travel+Leisure . “I realized I was living in a unique city, and I was fascinated by its millenary history, by the ancestral strength of its stones, by the architectural complexity, and by the genuineness of the food. It is an extraordinarily rich place for travelers who have great artistic and culinary sensibilities. In Matera, we can observe how men have been able, over the centuries, to coexist with the landscape, indulging nature without distorting it.”

font83/Getty Images

If that description doesn’t make you want to book a flight immediately, we aren’t sure what will. To help you in your (inevitable) planning, we’ve gathered up a few key sights to see, hotels to stay in, and foods to try, so you can experience this enchanting destination to its fullest. 

Related: 12 Best Small Towns in Italy

Best Hotels & Resorts 

Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa in Matera

Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa leans into the region’s understandable adoration of its caves. The five-star accommodation is designed so that visitors feel like they stepped back in time, all the way to Matera’s beginnings thousands of years ago. Your room within tuff (or stone) walls does come with all the modern amenities you need for a great stay — all 35 rooms and suites are decked out in plush furnishings, and guests have access to a massive wellness spa and a swimming pool carved directly into the rock. 

Palazzo Gattini

Another luxury option is Palazzo Gattini , a 20-room property that expertly mixes old and new, including contemporary furnishings and treasured antiques. Relax in the oversized suites, head to the rooftop for a drink with a spectacular view, or book a massage at the underground spa. 

Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort

Experience unabashed elegance at Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort . Located in the heart of a historic square in town, the property makes for a stellar jumping-off point for the rest of your adventures around Matera. Once again, you get to sleep in a modern cave room, and you'll wake up to gorgeous vistas of the old town from your picture window. 

Best Things to Do

Hike Murgia Materana Park.

Explore caves, historic churches, and endless hiking trails leading to breathtaking vistas with a visit to Murgia Materana Park . Getting here does take some dedication, though. Travelers need to hike from Sassi di Matera, heading downhill first only to head straight back up, but the bountiful views are worth the sweat spent on the journey. 

Take a tour with an expert.  

See and do as much as possible in one tour with Russo . On his two-hour, private walks, Russo takes travelers around the city and highlights the neighborhoods and the area’s history as they stroll the streets on morning or evening outings. “We will show you the cave houses, the rupestrian churches completely dug into the rocks, the conduits, and the underground cisterns,” Russo explained. Stops at sites with neolithic graffiti and medieval and hidden frescoes are other itinerary perks.

Visit the Church of Saint Mary of Idris.

Matera is filled with historic churches, and as you can tell from its hotel selection, plentiful cave dwellings, too. Yet none is as magical as the Church of Saint Mary of Idris . This tiny church welcomes visitors, who usually come to gaze upon what remains of its frescoes. But it’s not just the views inside that are special. Make sure to walk around the church’s exterior for a fantastic view of the town, then look back at the church to see how it’s built directly into a cliff.

Find contemporary pieces at Museo della Scultura Contemporanea Matera.

Not everything you do in Matera has to be old; just spend a little time at Museo della Scultura Contemporanea Matera to see what we mean. This art museum may be housed inside a 17th-century palace, but that just makes it modern sculpture collection (crafted from the 1800s onward) feel all the more intriguing. 

Best Restaurants

Trattoria del Caveoso

Can’t get enough time in Matera’s caves? Make a reservation at Trattoria del Caveoso , a restaurant tucked into a cliff. Here, guests can dig into plates of fresh pasta, grilled sausages, and beef filet, all perfectly paired with regional wines. 

Il Rusticone

Grab a no-fuss but still highly delicious lunch at Il Rusticone , a restaurant specializing in mouth-watering pizzas. Pasta and sandwiches are on the menu, too, but pizza really is the thing here. Order a classic Margherita or Napoli, or spice things up with a Diavola. 

Vitantonio Lombardo

Plan an elegant evening out with reservations at Vitantonio Lombardo Ristorante. Located in a grotto, the restaurant is the recipient of one Michelin star , thanks to chef Vitantonio Lombardo’s visionary tasting menus. Have a shorter dinner with a five-course menu, or stay the whole evening and go for 10. 

Best Time To Visit

Thanks to its privileged location in Southern Italy, Matera tends to have mild winters, making it a year-round destination. Note that summers here can get very warm, so if you can’t stand heat, visit in the fall or spring (ideally late April to early June, and late September to early November), when temperatures hover in the 60s and 70s. 

There is, however, one reason to travel to Matera in the midst of summer, and that is to take part in the Madonna Della Bruna festival, an event honoring the city’s patron saint. It’s held every year on July 2, and it includes parades, parties, and plenty of fireworks.

How to Get There

The closest airport to Matera is the Bari Palese Airport, some 37 miles away. Once you fly into Bari Palese, hop on a shuttle bus with direct service offered by Miccolis, Cotrab, or Grassani E Garofalo.

The easiest way to get to Matera is by bus. There are buses to and from Matera via major metropolitan areas in Italy, including Rome and Florence. Seek out the options and schedules available on both the Marozzi and Liscio bus lines. 

Travelers can also get to Matera via train, but these tend to be very long rides. For example, travelers can board a train from Rome to Matera Centrale Station and while romantic, the journey takes more than seven hours one way. 

Getting Around

Getting around Matera definitely requires solid walking shoes. Its narrow streets weren’t built with future cars in mind, so make sure to pack your most comfortable kicks.

Taxis are available in Matera, but they may not be able to make it through smaller streets, meaning you will likely still have to walk a bit to your final destination. 

Matera Tourist Information

Discover this breathtakingly atmospheric town in southern Italy famous for its cave-dwelling districts

About Matera

Matera is one of the most interesting, unusual and memorable tourist destinations in Italy. In the remote southern region of Basilicata (also called Lucania), still little-visited by foreign travellers, it is a town famous for its extensive cave-dwelling districts, the sassi . Curious visitors can stay in caves, wander the lanes alongside the picturesque cave-filled cliffs, and learn the history of this fascinating place.

The caves of Matera had been inhabited for centuries; some humble and some smarter residences, but by the early twentieth-century the area was a by-word for poverty. Until the 1950s hundreds of families were still living crowded into cave-houses here. The squalor and malaria-ridden conditions became a national scandal and finally the cave residents were moved – by law – to modern buildings on the plateau above. By the 1980s the abandoned caves of Matera were no longer scandalous, but fascinating reminders of the past. A few rather more well-to-do residents moved back and renovated old cave houses. In 1993 the town was made a UNESCO World Heritage site, for being “the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region, perfectly adapted to its terrain and ecosystem”. And ever since, Matera has become steadily more popular as an off-the-beaten-track tourist destination. More and more old cave-houses are being converted into comfortable modern dwellings, into hotels, B&Bs and restaurants. You can take guided tours of the sassi and visit historic reconstructions of cave life. Matera was the one of the filming locations for Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ , with shots showing the sassi and the gorge below.

Things to see in Matera

The way to start your visit to Matera is to wander around the sassi districts, looking at the cramped town above its ravine, and the tumbling grey stone facades, which appear to be houses but turn out to be caves. If you are just passing through, with only a casual interest, this plus a visit to a reconstructed cave-dwelling will suffice for a taste of the town. But to make the most of a trip to Matera, and to understand what you’re seeing, it really helps to have some context. After an initial independent exploration, we’d suggest taking a guided tour, reading a guidebook, visiting a cave-life reconstruction and one of the local museums. To ‘see’ Matera thoroughly, and to get an idea of the living conditions for the former cave-dwellers, you should spend at least a day in the town. For those who want to absorb more of the history and unique atmosphere, to explore the quieter spots and visit museums and churches, we’d recommend staying at least two nights in Matera.

It can be hard to get one’s bearings in Matera. The town centre, the oldest part of town, was built on the edge of a bare plateau where a high rocky mount looms over the spot where a valley descends to the long deep river-ravine. This is where you’ll now find the town cathedral and the fairly typical Italian town centre. As time passed, the rocky valley slopes below the town were dug out to create caves, used for housing, storage and stabling. These cave areas, where the poorest local peasants lived, fill a narrow valley and run along the side of the gorge itself. The first, and smarter, of the cave districts is called the Sasso Barisano and the other the Sasso Caveoso. Small lanes, alleys and stairways wind through the districts, some still closed off and abandoned. At first glance, the slopes might seem lined merely with small shabby stone buildings. But behind the simple facades – which sometimes extend outwards like traditional houses – the dwellings go back into the rock, cut out usually to form one large room, with a kind of ante-chamber at the back for animals. These parts of Matera are strange, quiet and picturesque; the pale rock makes the scene seem faded, colourless and timeless. Overhead swoop birds of prey which have made homes among the silent sassi including the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni).

In Matera and throughout this part of southern Italy, there are many churches cut into the rock of hillsides and ravines. These rock, or rupestrian churches – chiese rupestri – were mostly created by Basilian monks who were fleeing the iconoclastic persecutions in the Byzantine Empire during the eighth and ninth centuries. The caves often contain faded frescoes in the Byzantine style. Many in Matera are kept locked, but some can be opened by tour guides, and several are open to the public with a combined ticket organised by the Circuito urbano delle Chiese Rupestri . It is well worth visiting one or two of these atmospheric ancient places of worship. One of the nicest churches in Matera, though, is actually not a rock church. San Pietro Caveoso is built in a picturesque spot on a rocky spur above the ravine, and is a charming small building with a welcoming atmosphere, simple folk-art decorations and some friendly saints. Up in the crags above are two of the chiese rupestri , Madonna dell’Idris and San Giovanni in Monterrone, connected by a tunnel and visited with the combined ticket. They are good ones to visit, for as well as the truly cave-like feel, burrowed into a little rocky summit, there are some charming Byzantine-style wall-paintings.

The town’s main historical museum, the Museo Nazionale Ridola , contains exhibits from distant eras of Basilicata’s past, from prehistory to the Roman age (closed Monday mornings; a small entrance charge). Nearby, Palazzo Lanfranchi houses the Museo Nazionale d’Arte Medievale e Moderna della Regione Basilicata – an art museum incorporating the Pinacoteca D’Errico , which has lots of religous paintings by southern painters and, more interestingly, the Centro Carlo Levi , which contains a range of paintings by the twentieth-century artist and writer who is a part of this region’s modern history (see Basilicata page for more about Carlo Levi). More recent artwork can be seen in the well-presented sculpture gallery MUSMA (Museo della Scultura Contemporanea Matera), which exhibits sculpture from the nineteenth century onwards (closed Mondays; winter afternoons). It’s normal for churches and attractions to close for a few hours in the middle of the day, and winter opening hours are generally reduced, so check the latest times on the websites (see right) or on your arrival in Matera.

As tourism in Matera is becoming big business, various enterprising locals have set up tourist attractions such as cave ‘reconstructions’: cave-houses which have been filled with period fittings to show how life was once lived here. These include the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario , well-signposted in the Sasso Caveoso area. You are ushered into the cave, and left to look around while listening to a recorded commentary in your chosen language. There is another similar cave in the Sasso Barisano area, the Casa Grotta del Barisano . These are fascinating opportunities to see the typical layout of an inhabited cave, as they would have been until being deserted in the 1950s. The furnishings and design are all very standard, and it is both impressive to see how families adapted to these restrictive living conditions, and shocking to think how recently people lived like this. Chickens were kept under the bed, a horse in the corner and children slept where they could.

Matera’s biggest festival is the Festa della Bruna on the 2nd July each year, involving processions, costumes and fireworks.

There are various organisations operating tours of the sassi , and you may also encounter individual guides loitering around touting for custom. A company called Sassi Tourism have an office on the main panoramic road, and run quite frequent tours in English. They also sell the combined tickets for cave-churches, if you want to explore on your own. Once you’ve arrived in Matera, read a guidebook and got a feel for the town, you will probably be able to decide for yourself if you’d rather discover the sassi independently – which is perfectly possible and safe – or if you prefer to take a guided tour.

Visiting tips

Our top tip is to stay in a cave while you’re in Matera. There are several hotels and B&Bs where this is possible – see below for recommendations. Visiting a casa grotta reconstruction will bring home to you the difference between your nice hotel cave and the caves as inhabited by large families sixty years ago.

A bit of historical background really helps to make sense of the sights of Matera. Guidebooks or tour guides can be helpful to provide context. As well as the offical tour guides, you may encounter other residents keen to impart their knowledge, including the loitering guides mentioned above. We got trapped in a church by a man who, unasked, reeled off a string of dull information then asked for money. Accept offers if you wish; don’t be afraid to say no and don’t pay more than you feel is just. We gave the church bore a small token amount, and shortly afterwards we met very different local who shared huge amounts of information and reminiscences with us out of sheer friendliness and local pride. So don’t feel inhibited about asking questions of local people; most residents over a certain age will remember the inhabited sassi , and if they didn’t live there themselves, will know those who did – and also know of their nostalgia for their harsh but unusual cave upbringings. Asking about the town and its citizens may invite anecdotes which will bring your holiday to life.

One of the most important things to consider when planning your trip to Matera is timing. Some churches and attractions are only open at weekends, particularly in winter, and some require advance booking. If you want to fit a lot into your days, note that most sites with opening hours will close for up to four hours in the early afternoon. Travelling on a Sunday or a bank holiday is to be avoided if you don’t have a hire car – there are no trains on these days, and limited bus services. As Matera becomes more visited by tourists, some of these restrictions might lift – but by that time the atmosphere may also have lessened… so our advice is to visit soon, and plan around these inconveniences. There are already quite a few tour groups looking around town; late afternoon is a good time to avoid them.

Matera travel

The easiest way to reach Matera from the UK is to fly to Bari Airport, around 40 miles away. Bari Airport (also called Bari Palese) is, at the time of writing, served by budget Ryanair flights from London Stansted. There is a private railway line connecting Bari with Matera (more below) and in the summer months, there is currently a free bus service, called Pugliairbus, from Bari Airport to Matera, running several times a day (not Sundays) – book online in advance via the links on the airport webpage (see links panel on the right). To use year-round public transport, begin by taking a bus from the airport to Piazza Aldo Moro, outside Bari Centrale railway station.

The Bari – Matera railway line is run by the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane. Tickets are very cheap and the scenic journey takes around an hour and a half. There are no services on Sundays or Italian public holidays, so plan carefully. The terminus in Bari is alongside the main railway station in Piazza Aldo Moro. There’s a little ticket office on the ground floor and trains depart from a platform upstairs, where there is a small waiting area. Stamp your tickets in one of the machines provided before you board the train. In Matera there are three stations. Tourists will generally want the middle station, called Matera Centrale, which is in a dank underground tunnel, with a ticket office above at ground level. It will be helpful to look at a map, or to obtain directions from your hotel, before arriving in town, since orientation can be tricky. Matera Centrale station is in the newer part of town, above the sassi . When you emerge in the open air, cross over the Piazza Matteotti, and head downhill along Via Roma. There is a tourist information office (APT) on the left. At the bottom of the road you come to Piazza Vittorio Veneto. This is the town’s social hub, and it is just above one of the main cave-dwelling areas, the Sasso Barisano (down a flight of steps). To explore the sassi , just head downhill from here. Otherwise follow the directions from your hotel.

Matera is also served by buses, although the lines don’t run very frequently and you should check timetables in advance. SITA operate bus services from Matera to Taranto and Metaponto, both of which are on the mainline FS rail network, and to other local towns and villages. There is a nearer FS station at Ferrandina, but without (currently) a reliable connecting bus service. A company called Marozzi run buses to Rome.

If you are just visiting Matera, or are combining it with neighbouring Puglia , public transport is a feasible option. However, for exploring at your leisure, and seeing more of the remote Basilicata region, a hire car will be extremely useful. Car access to the centre of Matera is limited, and drivers should check in advance with their hotels for parking advice.

Around Matera

Outside Matera is an archaeological park covering an area of rock churches. The Parco Archeologico Storico Naturale delle Chiese Rupestri del Materano (more simply the Parco della Murgia Materana), can be explored with guides. A list of guides, with their email addresses and languages spoken, is published on the park’s website along with official prices (from €60 for a half-day with up to 4 people).

We combined Matera with a tour of the neighbouring region of Puglia. This works well thanks to the train service between Matera and Bari (see above). Otherwise, public transport from Matera is limited. For up to three nights, you’d find enough to do in Matera, perhaps adding a visit to nearby Altamura (on the railway line). For a longer stay, and if you want to explore more of the Basilicata region, a car will be extremely useful. If you are visiting away from the heat of summer, it is possible to enjoy some hiking around this area, to explore more rupestrian churches, and tour picturesque villages. Down on the coast, between Italy’s toe and heel, is Metaponto, where you can visit the ruins of the Greek city of Metapontum. If you have become fascinated by Carlo Levi’s accounts of the peasant culture which endured into the twentieth century, you could take a trip to Aliano, the village of his exile (called Gagliano in his writings), 55 miles from Matera. In Aliano there is now a literary park dedicated to Levi, and visitors can also see an exhibition of his paintings, a museum and the writer’s grave.

Accommodation

The best way to visit Matera is to stay in a cave. In the last few years, as the town has became an established tourist destination, several new hotels and B&Bs have been created within the sassi . I’ve stayed in two very good hotels: the affordable three-star Locanda di San Martino and the four-star Hotel Sant’Angelo , which house guests in a network of renovated cave-dwellings.

> Matera hotels and B&Bs

Basilicata guidebook

Basilicata region.

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Pollino National Park

Festa della Bruna

Flight of the Angel

Hotel Sant’Angelo, Matera

Locanda di San Martino, Matera

Locanda delle Donne Monache, Maratea

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Locanda di San Martino – Matera hotel review

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• Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita
• Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa
• Il Belvedere
• PALAZZO DEL DUCA HOTEL MATERA
• Locanda di San Martino - Hotel e Thermae
• Il Rusticone
• Burro Salato Bistrot Crepes Et Galettes
• Regiacorte - Restaurant & Lounge Terrace
• Quarry Lounge Terrace - Restaurant Garden In
• Sassi di Matera
• Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario
• Cripta del Peccato Originale
• Parco della Murgia Materana
• Discover Matera, the ancient city - Tour in Italian or English tour
• Sassi Walking Tour: between history and culture
• Guided Tour of Matera Sassi
• Ape Calessino Tour Sassi of Matera "Standard"
• Full 3h excursion to the Sassi di Matera

Matera, Italy Travel Guide: The Best Things To Do In Europe’s Oldest City

Last Updated on March 12, 2024 by Michela

If you’re looking for an unforgettable, authentic experience of Italian history, wonder and charm, I suggest you start booking your trip to Matera, Italy .

Matera is a city located in the southern Italy region of Basilicata. A middle-of-nowhere, wanderlust kind of energy fills the air before your arrival as you feel you are about to discover a new world.

The city is the third oldest in the world and the oldest city in Europe, having been continuously inhabited for over 8,000 years. I Sassi di Matera, the ancient town made of cave dwellings from dug-out limestone, are an UNESCO World Heritage site. They are also what earned the city the title of European Capital of Culture in 2019.

If you’re not yet convinced, read on to discover why Matera, Italy is so special and how to make the most of your visit.

Some of these links are affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through that link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure !

Before it became a wonder of Europe and the setting of the James Bond film, “No Time To Die”, Matera was not in good shape, called the “disgrace of Italy”. Up until the 1950s, the city was poverty-stricken and life in Matera’s caves was grim, marked by disease and hunger. Only until the 1980s after government intervention and later in 1993, when it became recognized as an UNESCO site for being an extraordinary example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region, did renovations begin.

If you want to dive further into Matera’s history, I suggest reading this article from the Smithsonian Magazine .

How to Reach Matera & Getting Around

Matera’s nearest airport is Bari which is a comfortable 45-minute drive away from the city. Bari has lots of flight connections all over Italy, so it is also comfortable and fairly inexpensive to find a low-cost airline servicing Bari every day of the week.

I recommend reaching Matera by renting a car. Because Matera is so close to other beautiful areas of Italy like Puglia, renting a car will give you more flexibility for exploring. Find your Matera rental car.

Driving in Italy in general can be a tough adjustment, but driving in the south is a whole different ball game! We noted many sizable potholes in the road and, most of the time, there weren’t even lines on the streets! Drivers kind of have a mind of their own but, since everyone is like that, somehow it makes for a hectic yet smooth orchestra of movements on the road.

The Sassi di Matera are a ZTL, or Limited Traffic Zone , meaning only residents can pass through at most times of the day. If you pass through and you are not a resident, you will be fined.

But this isn’t too much of a problem because there are lots of parking options on Matera’s “modern” side. They are typically all paid options. I personally recommend parking at Parcheggio Piazza Cesare Firrao , which is an underground garage just steps from the Sassi. Parking costs up to €10 per day here.

In general, I recommend parking in a covered garage rather than leaving your car out on the streets for safety reasons.

If you are traveling Italy by public transportation, then you can also reach Matera, Italy by bus. Companies like Flixbus offer routes to Matera from other major Italian cities.

If instead you are flying into Bari Airport, there are several inexpensive bus options that can take you to Matera that you can find on Omio .

You can reach Matera by train from Bari via the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane .

I don’t necessarily recommend this option because it is limiting in your freedom to explore places beyond Matera and because the railway system is slow. It is a local line, so it makes many stops, making a 45-minute drive to Matera a 2 hour train journey.

Pro Tip : If you are only taking a day trip to Matera, consider making the most of your time by taking a local guided tour.

Getting Around

There is a few things to consider for navigating the city of Matera and, specifically, the Sassi.

The size of the city itself makes it very walkable. You can explore all areas in a day. However, the streets are narrow and vertical. You will be walking up and down a lot, so it gets tiring.

This also contributes to another consideration: accessibility.

There are limited accessibility options provided for exploring within the Sassi. In fact, I saw several couples struggling to get strollers up and down the streets.

The city offers a shuttle bus to get from one side to the other of the Sassi di Matera, the Linea Sassi. Tickets cost €1.50.

Another option are Ape Car or Tuk Tuk tours. The Ape Car is a traditional work vehicle that some services have transformed into a cute and authentic tour vehicle. It could be an alternative to intense walking.

The Best Time to Visit Matera, Italy (And How Long To Stay)

The best time to visit Matera is between March and April .

During this period, the weather is a bit chillier (lows of 40° C, highs in the 60s). But this is actually an advantage to the scorching southern Italian summers. You may catch some of the rainy season of Italy in spring, but I’ll tell you the best part about visiting Matera during this time.

You feel like you have the whole city to yourself.

I kid you not, at 6 pm as the sun was setting and we were at one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the Church of Saint Mary of Idris, there was not a single person at or around the church with us. It felt like a dream and you can only get that kind of solitude and exclusivity by traveling during the off/shoulder season.

The Best Things to Do in Matera

Matera, Italy is a place to be explored and discovered with kid-like curiosity. Wind along the Via Madonna delle Virtù for the grand perspective of the city and then fearlessly dive into the network of narrow, uphill stone streets, ready to let go and be led by Matera’s maze.

Church of Saint Mary of Idris

One of the most unique places I’ve ever seen is Church of Saint Mary of Idris. It is one of Matera’s many “chiese rupestri”, meaning church carved out of rock.

It is the centerpiece of the Sasso Caveoso, the southern half of the Sassi di Matera. The northern half is called the Sasso Barisano.

You will likely gawk at this church, which dates back to the 1100s, from many angles while exploring the Sasso Caveoso because it stands out from the crowd of beige rock buildings. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time to go up close to admire it.

Entrance to the church costs €4 but can also be combined with entrances to other churches. You can buy tickets online or in person.

Secret location: Want to know where to find the incredible view in this photo? It’s not along any main road that you will easily walk by! The location is near Recinto San Nicola 21!

Visit More of Matera’s Churches

Around just about every corner in Matera you will find some kind of church. From more traditional, grand churches like the Matera Duomo to peculiar and particular stone sanctuaries, each with their own fascinating history.

Here’s a list of some must-see churches:

• Basilica Cattedrale di Matera “Maria Santissima della Bruna”, the Matera Duomo
• San Pietro Caveoso, right beside the Church of Saint Mary of Idris
• Convento di Sant’Agostino
• Chiesa di San Pietro Barisano
• Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista
• Chiesa di Sant’Eligio
• Secret church! Church S. Maria de Armenis

Eat in a Cave Restaurant

One of the unique and cool experiences in Matera is eating in one of the many hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Now, hole-in-the-wall doesn’t mean cheap or distasteful; I literally mean you are eating in a cave, a hole carved out of the Earth.

I recommend eating at a local trattoria or osteria, where traditional food is served. We ate at the Trattoria del Caveoso, a small, homey locale at a mid-range price level that had all the local eats available on its menu, from traditional cold cuts and cheeses as an appetizer to the nutty and creamy desserts.

The restaurant is located on Via Bruno Buozzi, which is the main pedestrian street of the Sassi Caveoso.

Hike the Gravina Canyon, Cross the Tibetan Bridge and Explore the Parco della Murgia Materana

The Sassi di Matera are set in an incredible location. A deep ravine divides the Sassi from the Murgia, a rugged regional natural park dotted with caves and caverns.

The Murgia park is also home to more rupestri churches, churches built out of the caves. If you are able to, visit the Chiesa della Madonna delle Vergini.

You can hike down the Sassi side to the “Ponte tibetano della Gravina”, a suspension bridge, and then hike up the other side to get to the Murgia.

The hike takes about 2 hours to complete.

If you have a vehicle, you can also drive to the Murgia. From the visitor center, it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the Belvedere Murgia Timore, the highest edge of the park with sprawling views of the Sassi on the opposite side.

Venture into one of Matera’s many peculiar museums

If you spend more than one day in Matera, you can use some of your time exploring to visit one of the many interesting museums like:

• Matera Olive Oil Museum (MOOM)
• National Museum of Matera in Palazzo Lanfranchi
• MUSMA – Museum of Contemporary Sculpture
• Casa Noha Art Gallery
• Laboratory Museum of Rural Life
• Casa Grotta nei Sassi, where you can see what a house in the caves was centuries ago
• Dacia Capriotti, not a museum but a historic place for Matera ceramics

Take in the views at all the Belvederes

An incredible viewpoint in Italy is called a “Belvedere” and – you guessed it – Matera is full of them. While nearly anywhere in the Sassi di Matera offers you an incredible view, there are designated overlooks with picture-perfect views. Make it a mini vacation goal to check them all off as you explore Matera:

• Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio
• Belvedere Piazzetta Pascoli
• Belvedere Murgia Timone
• Piazza Duomo
• Belvedere Emilio Colombo Statista

Go Underground and Explore the Palombaro Lungo

Just when you thought Matera couldn’t get more interesting. Don’t just explore the caves above ground: enter the veins of the city in its largest underground water reserve which played a fundamental role in distributing water to the Sassi’s residents.

You can walk along the cave system for €3 per person.

Practice your Photography

You’ve probably guessed by the photos, but Matera is a playground for photographers. The layers, the angles, the millions of different perspectives make storytelling almost easy in a place as magical and as architecturally playful as Matera.

Some photography tips:

• Shooting during strong daylight can create a lot of shadows, since all of the buildings are layered one above/next to the other. This can present opportunities for playing with light and dark, but if you are looking to take crisp photos of Matera, try waking up early to shoot while no one is out and about and the light is more even.
• For the reasons mentioned above, you may want to consider using a polarizer, especially if you are traveling to Matera in summer when the sun is at its strongest.
• Play with different kinds of lenses. Because of the interest to the eye that Matera creates, you should get creative by experimenting with different focal lengths and different lenses.

Matera City Center

The Sassi di Matera are no doubt the city’s main attraction but I couldn’t help but also fall in love with Matera’s lively downtown.

Just one street divides the old and the new, the Sassi and modern-day Matera, yet there is a world of difference between the two zones. The Sassi are quiet, solitary and promote a feeling of discovery and exploration; downtown is loud, lively and gives you a sense of belonging.

Listen to live music in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, stroll the Vida del Corso, visit the Matera National Museum and Castello Tramontano and more in Matera city center.

Where to Stay in Matera, Italy

I recommend spending at least one night in Matera, Italy to be able to experience the Sassi lit up at dusk, like a candlelit display.

Definitely stay in the Sassi di Matera area. There are some more modern accommodations in the city center but unless you have accessibility concerns, I highly recommend going for the unique experience of staying in a cave home or cave hotel.

Now this doesn’t mean homes in Matera are literal caves – our apartment stay had the cave vibe going on with few windows, the natural stone interior and a rounded ceiling, but it also had all the modern amenities we needed. I will list it below but I highly recommend where we stayed for both location and price – La Casa di Montegrosso.

Keep in mind that hotel prices vary greatly based on the tourist season.

Pro Tip: House numbers are not the easiest to find in Matera! Especially if you are going with an apartment stay, which may not be as obviously marked as a hotel, get specific info from your host (potentially even a dropped pin location on Google Maps so you can’t make a mistake) about the accommodation location.

Budget-Friendly Stays in Matera

These stays are all ones I considered while planning my trip at around €100 per night or less!

• La Casa di Montegrosso
• Casino San Giuseppe
• Slow Living B&B
• Casa Del Sole
• B&B Fiorentini

Mid-Range Stays in Matera

If you want more amenities than a budget stay but don’t want to go all out on spending, go for one of these options, at around €100-€200 per night.

• La Casa di Ele
• La Suite Matera Hotel & Spa
• Antica Torre di Iuso
• Angolo del poeta suite

Luxury Stays in Matera

Matera is such a unique place, and that comes with some unique and creative luxury experiences. Stays starting at €200 per night.

• Palazzo Gattini Luxury Hotel
• Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & SPA
• Quarry Resort
• Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort

Where (& What) to Eat in Matera

Matera Restaurants to Try

I already mentioned eating at the cave restaurant Trattoria del Caveoso, but here are some other can’t miss spots for good eats and memorable food experiences.

Zipa Café Cave Bar

The most unique spot in Matera to enjoy aperitivo is Zipa Café . This bar takes advantage of its hidden and cozy position beneath the Church of Saint Mary of Idris to create an open, relaxed atmosphere that lives in perfect harmony with the Sassi of which it is made.

You won’t find chairs in this bar but rather all kinds of pillows and cushions scattered around where you can sit and sip on your pre-dinner drink.

Michelin Star Restaurants

One thing I didn’t expect about Matera is the number of high-quality, Michelin star restaurant experiences in the historic Sassi.

I personally didn’t eat in these restaurants but I had to mention them in case you are a foodie wanting to fully dive into the flavors of Matera presented and reimagined in new ways.

• Vitantonio Lombardo Ristorante
• Dimora Ulmo

Pro Tip : If you are traveling on a weekend, no matter the time of year, try to make reservations for dinner. Locales are all fairly small in Matera, so they fill up fast.

Osteria MateraMì

I didn’t get the chance to eat here but it was highly recommend by my apartment-stay host. It’s another locale in which traditional dishes are the stars of the menu. No reinventing the wheel or excess bravado: just the rich flavors of southern Italy coming to life how your “nonna” would cook them.

You typically can’t go wrong with any dessert places in southern Italy: it’s truly their specialty.

But I absolutely fell in love with the dreamy sweets at Gran Caffé in the city’s more modern center just outside the Sassi. Here you must try “Nun’s Boobs” (more on that in a minute!), the Zeppole and the beignets. (The pastry cream is out of this world good!)

And the cappuccino, dusted with chocolate, was the perfect start to the day.

Matera Foods to Try

Basilicata is historically one of the poorest regions of Italy, so at the heart of their local cuisine is taking advantage of simple, fresh ingredients and making magic with basic yet full-bodied flavors.

• Orecchiette pasta
• Fave e cicoria , a soup mada of fava beans and chicory
• Crapiata , traditionally the “poor man’s” soup
• Cime di rapa , or broccoli rabe, usually served with a pasta
• Peperoni cruschi , sun-dried pepper
• Aglianico del Vulture wine from the province of Potenza
• Local olive oil, specifically the Ferrandina maiatica

Featured food: Nun’s Boobs

I told you I would get to explaining this one! I was surprised to when I saw on the pastry shop menu “Tette delle Monache”, meaning Nun’s Boobs.

It is a pastry native to Altamura, a town just a stone’s throw away from Matera, made of sponge cake and custard. The result is a simple, sweet, soft pillow of goodness!

Travel Tips for Visiting Matera

• Bring your camera. I think I made it pretty clear, but just to reiterate: Matera is a photographer’s playground. Shape, texture, layers, depth, shadows, light: have fun playing with everything this city has to offer. Check out my go-to travel photography gear .
• Wear comfortable shoes. Matera is built on the side of a cavern, so you will be walking up and down frequently (aka, all day long). The other thing to consider is that some roads and walking paths are smoother than others. Moral of the story? Don’t play around with footwear. Wear your comfiest shoes.
• Have cash for the city accommodation/tourist tax. Your accommodation will likely ask you when you arrive (not make you prepay) for the money that covers the city nightly tourist tax, which goes to the city government. This is €2 per night per person usually, but depending on the accommodation type, could be as high as €4 per person. In Matera, there is a limit to the tax of maximum 3 nights. If you are staying in a “casa vacanza”, or apartment stay, you will likely pay in cash to your host. Hotels might be able to take card.
• If you are thinking about traveling during winter, anywhere from November to February, keep in mind that certain attractions, transportation options, and services may not be available.

The SGTD Take

It’s difficult to fit into one blog post the best of Matera. What is most difficult is translating the physical sensation to the written word: the feeling of enchantment while walking through the oldest city in Europe, of discovering what lies beyond each cave entrance, of the sensation of time stopping still.

If I can’t encourage you by the practical tips and suggestions or even by the photos of this otherworldly landmark, I hope I can convince you just that little bit more with my words to make room for a stop in Matera. It’s the bucket list place you didn’t know you needed to cross off.

What are you still wondering about this enchanting city? Let me know in the comments!

Italy Trip Planning Resources

• Accommodation : For Italy, I mainly use Booking.com to search and book places to stay.
• Booking flights : I like to search for flights through Skyscanner , but I also book direct depending on the airline.
• Activities & experiences : For things to do that require a ticket, and for more unique trip activities, I use Musement .
• Road trip : For renting a car, I get the best prices by comparing companies with AutoEurope . I then use ViaMichelin to estimate road trip costs and Autostrade.it to find gas stations/have live updates on traffic.
• Transportation : Traveling by public transportation is a great way to see Italy. I use Trenitalia or Trainline to book tickets for trains and Flixbus for long-haul bus trips.
• Accessories : I always travel with this portable charger to stay connected and with a universal adapter to accommodate Italy’s plug types.
• Need help planning an itinerary? Fill out my form for a custom itinerary request !

Save this Matera, Italy travel guide for you trip-planning reference!

I hope this complete guide to Matera, Italy is just what you were missing to planning your perfect trip!

Michela is a travel writer and photographer living in northern Italy. She is passionate about helping people make the most of their travels by sharing advice gained from her personal experiences, off-the-beaten-path destinations and time-saving quick itineraries. Browse her top articles or have her help you plan your itinerary to your dream destination!

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16 Unmissable Things to Do in Matera, Italy

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In Matera Italy you’ll spend a lot of time in caves. You’ll sleep in a cave, eat in a cave, drink an aperitivo in a cave, and even view modern sculpture in a cave.

The ancient neighbourhoods, known as sassi , are a series of grottoes carved out of limestone, teetering on the edge of a ravine.

This southern Italian city is one of the most unique and spectacular places we’ve visited in Italy or anywhere in the world. We love it so much we’ve visited three times.

For years Matera wasn’t well known to foreign visitors, but that has been changing since it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, a European Capital of Culture in 2019, and the 2021 James Bond film No Time to Die was filmed here.

While visitor numbers have grown and many of the caves in Matera have been transformed into stylish hotels and restaurants, the city still has far fewer tourists than further north.

In this travel guide, I share the best things to do in Matera, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a map with all the top Matera attractions.

Video: Explore Matera Italy

Matera travel tips and facts, best things to do in matera italy, where to stay in matera, how to get to matera, matera italy map, is matera italy worth visiting, more italy posts.

Watch our video for ideas of what to do in Matera.

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Where is Matera Italy?

Matera is located in a remote corner of southern Italy in the small region Basilicata.

The nearest airport is 65km (40 miles) away in Bari in the neighbouring Puglia region. It’s only an hour’s drive and last time we booked a private taxi from the airport to Matera , which was super easy.

I recommend combining a trip to Matera with Puglia, which has many beautiful towns and beaches—discover the best places to visit in Puglia .

Matera is 250km (155 miles) or a 3-hour drive from Naples.

Below you’ll find more details on how to get to Matera.

How Old is the City of Matera Italy?

Matera is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in history dating back to the Palaeolithic period.

On the other side of the ravine from the sassi, you can see the simple forms of the Neolithic caves where people lived 7000 years ago.

What is Matera Known For?

Matera is known as the city of caves with spectacular scenery, stylish cave hotels, and a fascinating history.

It wasn’t always a desirable location, though.

Until the 1950s, Matera was a source of shame for Italy. It was a place of poverty, malaria, and high rates of infant mortality, where people lived in caves without electricity, running water, or sewage.

Carlo Levi’s book Christ Stopped at Eboli , published in 1945, raised awareness of the desperate conditions people were living in.

About half of the 30,000 population were moved to new homes in the modern part of the city between 1953 and 1968.

How Many Days Do You Need in Matera?

Matera is very walkable and you can get a good sense of the sassi with one day in Matera.

Some people visit on a day trip from Puglia. While this is doable, I recommend staying for at least two nights.

Matera is such a special place that it’s worth at least two days to soak up the atmosphere, see the city lit up at night, and enjoy some delicious meals.

What to Pack for a Matera Trip

I recommend packing as lightly as possible. If you stay in the sassi of Matera, you won’t be able to park nearby and will likely need to carry your luggage up the many steep staircases.

If you are driving, it’ll be easier if you leave most of your luggage in the car and take a small backpack to your hotel.

Some hotels may be able to help with luggage or provide a valet parking service—check with them in advance.

The best way to explore Matera is on foot so comfortable shoes are essential.

In summer, I like a combination of Teva Verra hiking sandals and Allbirds ballet flats , which are dressier but still ultra comfortable.

In cooler weather, Allbirds Wool Runners are also super comfy for Matera sightseeing. See my Allbirds review for more details.

Our carry on packing list has everything we pack for our full-time travels.

1) Stay in a Matera Cave Hotel

One of the most unique things about Matera is the large number of cave hotels and B&Bs. Staying in one really adds to the magical experience of visiting the city.

On our latest Matera visit, we stayed in a cave room at Hotel Il Belvedere . The terrace has incredible views of the sassi and ravine (the perfect location for breakfast or a drink), and our huge room was cool even in 40ºC heat.

On a previous trip, we stayed at Bed and Breakfast La Corte dei Pastori in the heart of the old sassi. We loved the atmospheric rooms, gorgeous views, delicious breakfast, and friendly hosts.

See the Where to Stay in Matera section below for more details.

2) Wander and Get Lost

The best thing to do in Matera is wander and get lost in the incredible streets.

Although we preferred exploring alone, it could be worthwhile visiting with a guide to learn more about Matera’s history.

This two-hour guided tour of Matera’s sassi is affordable and gets excellent reviews. Or check out this private Matera walking tour for a more personal experience.

If you don’t want to walk, the only option is this tour in an Ape , an open-sided tuk-tuk.

From Matera’s train station we walked through the modern city of Baroque churches and graceful palaces.

The first glimpse of the sassi (the stones) stops you in your tracks, looking down at the dramatic tangle of grey stone houses; a contrast with the elegance of the new town.

Walking down a steep staircase, we plunged into a magical world that didn’t quite feel real.

Buildings climb up and down the hillside, houses piled on top of each other, the roofs of some acting as streets for those above.

They were carved out of rock and the original caves extended with facades that look like normal homes.

The best way to explore the neighbourhoods Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso is on foot.

Roam through the labyrinth of narrow alleyways, up and down uneven stone staircases, discovering dead ends and tiny courtyards adorned with flower pots, cave churches and expansive views of the sassi .

3) Admire Matera from a Viewpoint

It’s not difficult to find scenic spots, but it’s worth seeking out some viewpoints for the absolute best panoramic views of Matera. Around sunset is usually a beautiful time and I also love to see the city lit up after dark.

• Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli – My favourite viewpoint looks down into the sassi with views of the Duomo’s bell tower, the rock church, and the ravine. It’s off Via Ridola near two of the best places to eat and drink with a similar view—5 Lire (pizza slices) and Terrazza Cavaliere (drinks and aperitivo). See our Matera restaurants guide for details.
• Piazza San Pietro Caveoso – Next to the Church of San Pietro e Paolo is a beautiful view down into the ravine. Walk further along the road here to look back at the rock church. You’ll likely pass here often as it’s close to many top Matera sights and restaurants.
• Above Church of San Pietro Barisano – After visiting this rock church in Sasso Barisano, walk up the streets above it for an excellent view. Enjoy a drink at Crialoss Cafe. In the early evening, the light is wonderful here when the buildings are in shade at the other viewpoints.
• Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio detto dei “Tre Archi” – Next to Matera’s main square, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, in the newer part of the city. It’s not as sweeping as the others and you can’t see the ravine, but it has a good view of the Duomo and you can see how densely packed the city is.

I also highly recommend hiking into the ravine for an excellent view.

4) Visit Cave Churches

One of the best things to see in Matera is the many chiese rupestre , churches that have been carved out of the soft tufa rock. Many of them contain ancient frescoes.

The most famous cave church is Santa Maria di Idris with its dramatic location built into a huge rock on the edge of the ravine. It’s a distinctive sight from viewpoints throughout the city.

If you only have time for one Matera rock church, make it this one. It’s most impressive from the outside, but inside there are two small cave chapels featuring frescos from the 12th century. You can’t take photos inside.

Santa Lucia alle Malve is another cave church nearby. If you already have a cave church combo ticket, go straight to the entrance on the right. It’s less impressive from the outside but has some interesting art inside including the Virgin breastfeeding.

The third cave church included in the ticket is San Pietro Barisano , which is the largest rupestrian church and dates back to the 12th century. It’s on the other side of town in the quieter Sasso Barisano.

It also has some ancient frescos as well as a rather creepy crypt with seats carved into the walls where dead priests were left to decompose.

We visited just before it closed and combined it with a drink with a view at Crialoss Cafe, which is directly above the church.

The cave churches are open from 10am to 7pm every day. Entrance to Santa Maria di Idris is €4 or you can get a ticket valid for three rock churches for €8.

5) Explore the Uninhabited Caves of Sasso Caveoso

Most of the caves in Matera are now homes, hotels, restaurants, and bars.

But on the edge of town, on Rione Casalnuovo in Sasso Caveoso, you can peer into uninhabited caves and get a sense of what it was like to live here years ago.

It’s the rawer side of town, and for us, the most fascinating.

6) Learn Matera’s History at Casa Noha

A good first stop for your Matera visit is Casa Noha, where you can watch a 30-minute film about Matera’s history.

It takes place in a historic building and you move between rooms for different sections of the film. While the film is in Italian, an audioguide is provided for English and other languages.

It really gives you some context to the city learning about how bad living conditions were up until the 1950s and how the sassi were abandoned entirely for years before being regenerated.

Casa Noha is open every day except Wednesdays from 10am to 7pm (5pm in winter). Entrance is €6.50.

7) Admire Sculptures at MUSMA

MUSMA (Museum of Contemporary Sculpture) is an art museum with modern sculptures scattered in the nooks and crannies of a 17th-century cave palace.

It’s an extraordinary setting and worth a visit even if you aren’t into modern art.

MUSMA  is open every day from 10am to 8pm (until 6pm in winter). Entrance is €7.

8) Head Back in Time in a Casa Grotta (Cave House)

Some of the most interesting places to visit in Matera are the Casa Grotta (cave houses).

Several caves have been set up as typically furnished cave dwellings where you can see how people used to live.

The entire family (on average six members) including animals like mules, chickens, and pigs lived together in the cave. You can see the furnishings, tools, and other artefacts of the time.

These one-room museums are a fascinating insight into life in the sassi, especially when combined with the film at Casa Noha.

The most popular cave house is Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario, which is conveniently located near the cave church Santa Maria di Idris in Sasso Caveoso.

It gets crowded with tour groups, though, so on our last visit we visited a quieter but just as interesting spot, Casa Grotta C’era Una Volta in Sasso Barisano.

Another option is Casa Grotta del Casalnuovo , which is only a three-minute walk from Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario.

Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario is open every day from 9.30am to 6pm (7pm on weekends). Entrance is € 5.

Casa Grotta C’era Una Volta is open every day from 9am to 6pm (until 8pm in summer). Entrance is € 2.

9) Walk into the Ravine

One of the top things to do in Matera is to walk down into the ravine that the city is perched on the edge of.

The whole area is part of the protected Parco della Murgia Materana. It’s wonderful to have access to nature so close to a vibrant city.

It looks daunting, but the walk down into the ravine and the return back up isn’t too difficult. Avoid the midday heat, though, and take plenty of water.

It’s quietest in the early morning (we had it almost to ourselves at 7am) and busiest towards sunset.

You can find the trail down at Porta Pistola (marked on Google Maps as “Ponte Tibetano della Gravina – Accesso al Parco della Murgia Materana”). There’s a map and a sign for the official trail name, Parco della Murgia Materana Sentiero 406 (Murgia Materana Park Trail 406).

The trail is rocky and quite steep, so decent shoes are a must. Simon wore his Teva hiking sandals while I wore my Allbirds Tree Dashers running shoes .

At the bottom of the ravine, turn right and walk along the river (loud with frog song) until you reach the suspension bridge, Ponte Tibetano della Gravina (15 minutes from the start).

Even if you just walk here, it’s worth it for another perspective of the city looming above.

If you are able, I highly recommend continuing on the trail up the other side of the ravine to Belvedere Murgia Timone.

The view here is spectacular. You can really take in the scope of Matera and the difference between Sasso Caveoso (simpler dwellings built into the rock) and Sasso Barisano (taller, grander buildings).

Near the viewpoint are several rupestrian churches carved out of the rock including Sant’Agnese and Madonna delle Tre Porte.

They are gated (only accessible with a guide), but you can peer inside at the 13th-century frescoes.

The out and back hike to Belvedere Murgia Timone was 3.5km (2.2 miles) and took us 1 hour 15 minutes with 211 metres (692 feet) of elevation gain. Most people allow around two hours for the trip.

If you are keen to carry on walking, choose from the many trails that crisscross the hillside.

If you don’t feel like hiking, you can reach the viewpoint by car—it’s a 15-minute drive from Matera Centrale train station. It would be stunning at sunset.

You can also explore the cave churches without hiking the ravine on this guided tour to Murgia Park .

10) Visit Matera’s Duomo (Cathedral)

Matera’s Cathedral, Cattedrale di Maria Santissima della Bruna e Sant’Eustachio, is more simply known as Il Duomo.

It was built in the 13th century at the highest point in the old city, on a ridge between the two sassi. Its bell tower dominates the skyline in Matera.

The Romanesque exterior is simple, except for the beautiful rose window. The interior decoration was added centuries later and is much more ornate with lots of gold and ceiling frescos. Entrance costs €1.

If you need a drink or a break, the Duomo Cafè on the piazza was surprisingly affordable given its setting.

11) Explore More Matera Churches

Aside from the cathedral and rock churches, there are many other churches to visit, but I wouldn’t say they are a Matera must-do. All these have free entry.

We didn’t find the interior of 13th century San Pietro Caveoso very exciting, but next to the church there’s a stunning view into the ravine.

Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi has an impressive Baroque exterior that reminded us of Lecce . Inside it feels newer.

Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista feels different from the others with Gothic and Romanesque elements. It’s in the newer part of the city on a cute piazza that’s a lively place for a drink in the evening.

12) Eat a Delicious Meal

The food in Matera is on a par with our favourite Italian food in neighbouring Puglia and uses lots of fresh seasonal vegetables.

You’ll find the same huge plates of antipasti as well as orecchiette pasta and fava bean puree with chicory. Look out for delicious bread, too.

Some of our favourite restaurants are Trattoria del Caveoso, La Lopa, and Dimitria.

For a casual meal, pick up a slice of pizza from 5 Lire or a plate of pasta from Kapunto Pasta Lab.

And don’t miss gelato at I Vizi degli Angeli.

See our detailed guide to the best restaurants in Matera Italy for more recommendations.

13) Enjoy an Aperitivo with a View

The perfect way to end a busy day exploring Matera is to enjoy a drink (preferably an Aperol Spritz) with some delicious snacks and a view of the sassi.

Our favourite bars with a view are Terrazza Cavaliere (head to the terrace out the back) and Crialoss Cafe (on top of the cave church San Pietro Barisano). They are on opposite sides of town so you get a different perspective.

Our post on where to eat in Matera has more suggestions.

14) See an Old Olive Press at Moom

MOOM, the Matera Olive Oil Museum, is a small family-run museum in an underground oil mill dating back to the 15th century.

You can see how olive oil was once made—it was used for lamp oil rather than for eating. The stable housed two donkeys who worked the circular stone mill to squash the olives into a paste.

The paste was put into woven bags and placed under massive wooden presses, which were used to extract the oil.

It was arduous work that took place 24 hours a day during olive harvest season—the workers slept there for a few hours between shifts.

After the tour, you can do a tasting of the owner’s olive oil, which is produced on a farm outside Matera. Prices are quite reasonable if you choose to buy some.

Visits to MOOM are by appointment only at least a few days in advance (I emailed). The tour is usually in Italian but audioguides are available for English speakers. It costs €7 (cash only). Allow 20 – 60 minutes.

15) Venture Underground at Palombaro Lungo

Matera’s network of underground cisterns is one of the reasons it gained UNESCO World Heritage status.

Palombaro Lungo is the largest of the cisterns, a below-ground Cathedral of Water carved out of the rock. It was used for collecting and storing rainwater for over a century up until the early 20th century.

People extracted the water using buckets dipped into a well. You can still see the rusty marks that lost buckets made on the ceiling.

It’s a cool sight, but a visit won’t take long. There are guided tours at certain times in Italian or as we did, do a self-guided tour with an English leaflet.

Palombaro Lungo is open every day from 9.30am to 1pm and 3pm to 6.30pm (times may vary throughout the year). Entrance is €3.

16) Discover the Underground City at Ipogeo MateraSum

Ipogeo MateraSum is not far from Palombaro Lungo. It feels off the beaten track and there were only two other visitors on our summer visit.

The underground area has been excavated to reveal how a network of Matera caves was once used by residents. There’s a bakery, mill, homes, quarry, church and more.

After watching a five-minute video, you can explore the complex with an audioguide downloaded on your phone (unfortunately, the English translations weren’t great). It takes about 30 minutes.

Ipogeo MateraSum is open every day from 10am to 7pm. Entrance is €7.

The most atmospheric places to stay in Matera are cave hotels and B&Bs in the sassi.

The best Matera accommodation does book up, so plan well in advance if you can.

Hotel Il Belvedere

On our last trip to Matera, we stayed at Hotel Il Belvedere and loved it.

It has the perfect location on the edge of Sasso Caveoso. It’s outside the ZTL (limited traffic zone) so you can drop off your luggage at the door, unlike many hotels deep in the sassi. It’s a 10-minute walk from free parking, but we arrived by taxi.

It’s close to all the Matera highlights on foot.

As the name suggests, the hotel has the most spectacular view from its terrace of Matera and the ravine. It’s one of the best views in the city.

On the terrace you can enjoy the included delicious breakfast buffet (the focaccia and homemade chocolate cake with Aglianico wine were the highlights) or later in the day, have a drink and tagliere board of cheese, bruschetta, and taralli (they made us a vegetarian version for lunch).

You can choose from regular or cave rooms. We had a Superior Double Room, which is the largest cave room with plenty of space for the four poster bed, day bed, and desk. We loved the exposed stone walls, especially in the bathroom.

The rooms have air conditioning, but we barely needed it in our cool cave, even when it was 40ºC outside (we retreated here in the hottest part of the day). We had no issues with damp either.

Of course, the downside of a cave room is limited natural light, but there is a window in the door to let in some light.

We highly recommend Il Belvedere. Check availability and latest prices here .

B&B La Corte dei Pastori

On a previous trip, we stayed at Bed and Breakfast La Corte dei Pastori run by the friendly young couple Tiziana and Mimmo.

We stayed in the largest room with a spacious living area with a couch, table and fridge, and a bedroom at the other end.

It’s been lovingly restored with an arched ceiling from rustic creamy stone and the decor is kept simple with just some lovely details like a carving of the city along the wall.

The cave is cool inside but doesn’t feel damp. There’s good WiFi and the bathroom has a powerful rain shower and is decorated with a colourful mural of the Basilicata countryside.

The best thing about the B&B is the location, right next to San Pietro Caveoso church on the edge of the ravine, with wonderful views of the sassi through the glass door in the room and from the terrace.

It’s an incredibly scenic location for breakfast, and the food is delicious—a big spread of focaccia, bread, jams, croissants, biscuits, yoghurt, fruit, juice, and coffee, far more than we could eat.

The B&B is in the limited traffic zone and up some stairs from Piazza San Pietro Caveoso. You should be able to arrive by taxi, and it’s near a bus stop so you can take a bus from their recommended car park, Parcheggio Via Saragat.

La Corte dei Pastori is a wonderful place to stay in Matera—it’s unique, friendly, and has an incredible location. It books up fast, though. Check availability here . 

Other Matera Cave Hotels

Some other Matera cave hotels I was tempted by include:

• Palazzo degli Abati – We had a drink at this hotel in quieter Sasso Barisano and it has a stunning view. Choose from cave or regular rooms—both look beautiful and have direct access to that wonderful terrace.
• Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel – One of the best hotels in Matera. The cave rooms look gorgeous (especially the suites) and there’s even a cave swimming pool and spa!
• Palazzotto Resident Residence and Winery – Incredibly atmospheric and stylish cave rooms near the Duomo. You can try the owner’s wines onsite too.
• Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita – Romantic cave rooms and suites overlooking the ravine. Some have free-standing bathtubs and all have a unique charm. One of the top Matera cave hotels.

Search for more B&Bs and hotels in Matera here . 

Matera by Plane

The nearest airport to Matera is 65km away in Bari, Puglia (airport code BRI).

I highly recommend combining Matera with a visit to the neighbouring region of Puglia (here are the Puglia towns I recommend).

On all of our trips, Bari was our access point—there’s a major train station and an airport served by budget airlines.

Search on Kiwi.com for the cheapest flights to Bari .  

From the airport, you can hire a car or take the airport shuttle bus. The Pugliairbus takes 1 hour 15 minutes from Bari airport to Matera. It costs just €5.

You can also arrange a private transfer from the airport to Matera . We did this on our last trip and it was so easy. The driver met us in the airport arrivals hall, and an hour later, after a comfy ride in a spacious minivan, we arrived at our hotel in Matera. Check availability here .

Bari is worth spending a day to explore the old town. See our guide to the best things to do in Bari Italy.

Matera by Car

From Bari you can also hire a car—either from the airport if arriving by plane or from the centre if arriving by train.

This is the best option if you are planning to tour Puglia as well as visit Matera.

We use Booking.com Car Rentals  to find the best deal.

Parking and navigating the streets in Matera can be tricky, but we have managed it before.

Once you are in Matera you don’t need a car unless you want to visit some of the attractions further afield. The city is fairly small and walkable, as long as you can deal with the many staircases.

On our most recent trip, we took a taxi from Bari airport to Matera and then back to Bari centre (we could also have taken the train).

After spending a few days there, we rented a car to travel the rest of Puglia. This worked out well for us and was easier than having a car in the cities.

Where Can I Park in Matera Italy?

The biggest problem with travelling to Matera by car is that you are not allowed to park in the sassi or historic centre unless you have a permit.

For most of the day it’s not even possible to drive into the ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone).

It’s best to ask your accommodation in advance where to park in Matera that’s closest to them. In some cases, you might be able to drop off your luggage and then go to park your car outside the centre.

Driving in the sassi is quite stressful, though, so I’d avoid it if possible.

One of the nearest car parks to the sassi is Parcheggio Nicoletti Michele , which costs €20 for 24 hours and can be booked in advance.

It’s privately run and you need to leave your keys with them, but it gets good reviews. From there it’s a 10-minute walk to B&B La Corte dei Pastori.

A cheaper parking spot is Parcheggio Via Saragat, a large car park that costs €0.50 per hour.

It’s a 25-minute walk from the car park to the B&B or you can take the Linea Sassi bus from outside.

This bus runs every 30 minutes right into the sassi and ends at Piazza San Pietro Caveoso. You can buy tickets on board for €1.50.

For staying at Hotel Il Belvedere, there’s free parking a 10-minute walk away on Via Cappuccini, but you can’t book it in advance. Or Parcheggio Via Vena is a 5-minute walk away and costs €1 an hour.

Matera by Train

Taking the train avoids parking hassles. The train from Bari to Matera is run by a private company and is a slow commuter train that doesn’t run on Sundays.

You can see the timetable on the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane website. Tickets cost €5.70 each way and it takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Trains leave from the FAL station next to the main station in Bari.

From Matera Centrale station you can walk to the sassi in about 15 minutes or take the Linea Sassi bus.

The walk involves lots of stairs, though, so it’s best if you are travelling with a smaller backpack rather than a rolling suitcase.

To travel by train from elsewhere in Italy to Matera, you will have to change in Bari.

You can buy tickets to Bari on TrenItalia (using Italian place names).

This Matera map features all the attractions, restaurants, hotels and other locations mentioned in this guide to Matera.

Yes, Matera is absolutely worth visiting! Matera is truly special—it has a spectacular setting, fascinating history, and excellent cuisine. It’s as beautiful as many cities in Italy but far less crowded.

Read our other posts to help you plan your Italy trip.

Matera and Puglia

• 14 Best Restaurants in Matera
• 12 Towns Not To Miss in Puglia
• Salento Italy: The Ultimate Travel Guide (the best area for beaches!)
• 17 Best Things to Do in Bari Puglia
• The Ultimate Guide to Lecce Puglia (the most beautiful city)

The Rest of Italy

• Eating in Italy: Dos and Don’ts
• 29 Unusual Things to Do in Rome to Escape the Crowds
• Hiking the Path of the Gods (and Visiting Amalfi Coast on a Budget)
• 16 Unmissable Things to Do in Bologna

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123 Comments

Your blog is really useful and full of information. It feels like I found a treasure chest. I was able to get enough information for my trip. thank you. I wish you good health and good luck!

Reply ↓

Aw, thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you found it useful.

It is a very UGLY place Seems like a mosaleum to me lol !!!

Loving your Italian blogs, my husband and I adore Italy and have travelled to many of the same areas. Your writing style is so similar to mine when giving information to friends or posting on fb, who all tell me I should set up my own online travel agency/blog! We are travelling to Matera in October and your tips have been invaluable, especially regarding hotels. We are staying 2 nights at Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, which has been on my bucket list of places to stay for 10 years (so unique and worth a mention), but our first 2 nights are at Il Belvadere, on your recommendation. I am already best friends with the charming Davide on email! Places to stay in Matera do book up well in advance (I blame the latest James Bond film 🥴), so always worth planning as far ahead as possible.

Your thoroughness is greatly appreciated! I’m glad you had a soul quenching trip. I’ll definitely add this to my bucket list

Excellent post! So much detail and I am super keen to visit Matera now. What would you recommend for a first time traveller to Italy for a 4 week holiday?

That’s a difficult question as it depends on your interests and how fast you want to travel, but it’s great you have so much time!

The classic destinations are Venice, Florence and Rome, which are all worth visiting. I would definitely add Matera and Puglia and a few other smaller places. Towns in Tuscany, and Cinque Terre and the Rapallo area in Liguria are all possibilities.

My wife requires a walker/wheelchair to get around. Is it possible to see Matera this way/or are there any excursions from Bari that could accommodate us?

My impression is that it would be challenging in a wheelchair or walker – there are a lot of steps. You could try contacting this tour company for advice (I don’t have any knowledge of them though): https://www.accessibleitalianholiday.com/matera-accessible-tours-wheelchair-users-travel-apulia/

I am sure a wheelchair would not be advisable in Matera. I just returned from there and found even the walking challenging. Many many steps to climb, many different levels to maneuver, all on bumpy cobblestone streets. I found all the Italian villages we visited were the same. Even Venice.

Erin, My wife and I will be visiting Matera at the end of September 2022. We will be on a Rick Steves Tour and we will be there for two days. We will have quite a bit of free time while there. My question is this: My grandmother was born in Matera in the late 1800’s, she left and traveled to America in 1912. She never returned, however, she left family members there. I’m interested in finding out anything I can about her family, where they lived, where they are buried, anything! Any suggestions?

I’m really not sure. Perhaps contact a local guide as they would have a better idea where to start. Good luck with it!

A local guide can take you to the city hall. If you know names, birth & marriage dates you might be able to get copies from their excellent hand written records. I was very successful in Bisacquina.

Excellent information! Thank you!

looking to visit Matera in May 2022. taking your suggestion for the stay of 2 days. Where would it be best for our main arrival, to fly into? and should we drive to Matera or a bus?

I would fly into Bari and take the train.

Hi – Awesome article. Super useful. A quick question. I would be staying in hotel L’Hotel in Pietra and would flying in from Milan. Would you know far is the Pugliairbus stop from the hotel? Also, is there any bus that I take from the hotel to the Bari train station (my return is through Bari train station). Thank you.

I’m not sure about that – I recommend asking your hotel for advice. Enjoy your trip!

we have been to Matera absolutely a magical city. My family came from the Matera and Bari region just love it.

Hi Erin, Sounds like a wonderful city to visit especially after watching No Time to Die. What is the festival in the movie about burning a paper to forget the past? And when is that and called? So is it sage for a solo to take a bus or train from Bari? I think it is but just like to reconfirm.

Thanks so much Jeannie butler

Hi Jeannie, it is such a beautiful city and safe for solo travellers to get there from Bari.

I think they made the festival up for the film, but it is partly based on Matera’s largest festival, Festa della Bruna , which takes place on 2nd July each year.

I hope you make it there!

I am wondering if in December everything is still open?

Yes, things should be open. It’d be a cold but pretty time to visit with the Christmas lights.

My friend is in Matera now. He sent me amazing photos of this incredible place. The caves, the buildings, the food, what a historical phenomenon. He can’t stop raving about Matera. I can see why by the photos. Hopefully some day I’ll get there. Italy has always been my favourite country, along with Cuba. Matera is a must. Totally unique. Looks tranquil and peaceful.

Glad your friend enjoyed Matera and I hope you make it there one day!

I had the pleasure of celebrating my 60th birthday during the month of September 2010, in Italy. Part of the trip was a bike trip along the Bari Coast. Every place we went was amazing, full of history, beauty, delicious food, wine and happy kind people. The weather was perfect everyday. The trip was everything and more than what I had hoped for. The unexpected surprise was a last minute change of plans to Matera….it is an unforgettable not very well known treasure. Stayed in one of he caves and had amazing food. DO NOT miss an opportunity to visit this city.

I’m so glad you had such a good birthday – it sounds like an amazing trip!

Just saw a video on Utube done by ProWalk that was amazing. This cave city is fascinating and to see structures (restaurants,churches and residences built into solid stone is unbelieving. Most definitely Italy’s most unfamiliar gem and worth a trip (although not for the aged population with stone walks and many many steps).

Planning two month European 50th Anniversary trip October and November 2021. November part one week Capri, 10 days touring Puglia, first stop Matera (coincidently, booked at La Corte die Pastori). Then Lecce, down to the tip of the boot heel, Polignano, back to Naples and then 2 weeks Rome and day trips nearby. The only thing that can stop two old dreamers is Wuhan Virus. But the WILL to travel is strong.

We plan to Visit Matera, Italia in 2021, or 2022. We wanted to visit in the month of Sept. What is the weather usually like at that time of the year? Is there a flight right to this area from Vancouver, B.C> Canada? Or will we have to fly to another city and then take a train to Matera?

The weather is perfect in September – it should be hot and sunny but not as steaming hot as the summer. The closest airport is Bari and you can take the train from there.

I’m not sure if there are direct flights from Vancouver (it seems likely you’d have to change somewhere in Italy). You can check routes and prices on sites like Skyscanner and Kiwi.

It is n0t that difficult to drive from Naples or Rome either. Probably 3 hours from Naples, 5 hours from Rome. If you’re going to rent a car anyway, that might be a good option and then you can stop at a couple places along the way.

My husband and I are planning a trip to Italy in March. We saw some photos and videos of Matera and are interested in staying in some of your “cave hotels” near the Sassi area. We would like to speak with someone who can give recommendations, by phone. We have not seen any phone numbers to actually speak with someone. The hotel booking companies do not list any phone numbers, only email addresses.

As a Grammy of 6 and one who has visited Matera, it might be a difficult day for small ones. There is tons of walking in Matera and most of it on steps. I can imagine this would get exhausting to small ones and perhaps dampen an unbelievable day for you. This was one of our favorite places and is truly unique and amazing. There is nothing you would wish to miss in one of the world’s oldest cities. Have the best time!!

I’m not Erin (clearly), but I spend a lot of time in Matera every year and have for the past decade as my husband is from there. (You’ll probably walk by what used to be his grandmother’s house if you do go! It’s very close to a central plaza in the sassi.)

I don’t travel with kids but I’d say if the kids in question like to spend time outdoors, there’s plenty to do in Matera. As Erin mentioned, you can hike down into the ravine, and I’ve seen plenty of children having fun just running up and down the staircases in the sassi. You can go around to the Belvedere across the ravine from Matera and explore that area. Since you’ll be there in July, you can eat outdoors on terraces, which gives your children more freedom to get up during meals should they become restless.

I’m not sure what the itinerary for the rest of your trip is, but Matera is just over an hour’s drive from Bari, so you could easily go for a day and leave if it was too much for your kids.

I’m obviously highly biased but I very much recommend Matera! As Erin said, it’s a spectacular and unique place – very unlike anything else I’ve seen in Italy.

Hope you have a great time on your trip, wherever you end up going!

I agree and can’t see any reason not to bring your kids as long as they are ok with walking. If you rely on strollers you might struggle as there are quite a lot of steps.

Hi Erin! This info is fantastic, thank you! We are visiting Bari in July 2020 and I’d love to make the trip to Matera. We will have a personal driver familiar with the area. We will also have 4 kids ages 2-7. Would you recommend not bringing them to Matera?

Hi. I will be arriving in Bari Central at 19.10pm. Is it possible to get a direct train to Matera.

Thanks in dvance

You can check timetables here: https://ferrovieappulolucane.it/en/

It looks like there are a few trains in the evening you could catch, as long as it’s not a Sunday.

I look forward to Matera. It’s my first stop in my 2 week tour of Italy.

Wonderful, enjoy!

There is a cheap and faster alternative to get to Matera from Bari if you are at the airport: take the bus. https://getbybus.com/en/bus-bari-airport-to-matera

Hi Erin! Your blog is amazing! I stumbled upon it on Pinterest and was about to skim through as I usually would, but instead, found myself completely engrossed as if reading a favorite book. This post and the one you wrote on the best cities to visit in Puglia are so in-depth, perceptive, and beautifully written!

As someone who’s never visited these places, you’ve helped break the areas down geographically in such an easy way to understand and envision, making it much much more easier for us to plan our trip. Thank you!

Aw, thank you Thao for such kind words :) Good luck with your trip planning and feel free to ask any questions.

Is Matera a good base to move around Puglia by train? We are not hiring a car. We plan to stay in Matera for 4 days and do day trips from there.

It’s not ideal as you’ll first have to get to Bari which takes 1.5 hours, then you’ll have to switch to a train for other parts of Puglia. It would be better to add a night or two in Bari or just focus on lovely Matera.

You could also consider hiring a driver for the day. See the 4th reply to this question. They paid €100 for a day trip by taxi to Alberobello: https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/ShowTopic-g2440589-i25639-k8507978-Day_trip_from_Matera_to_Alberobello_by_bus-Province_of_Matera_Basilicata.html

Hello! I plan to visit Matera in early May and am wondering if I can survive off of just knowing English? I ask bc on this trip I’m also visiting France and French is the language I’ve wanted to learn for awhile so that’s what I am focusing on learning. I feel like if I try to learn both I won’t learn either.

I’m sure you’ll manage fine. You can always use Google Translate it you get stuck!

I went to Matera as part of my honeymoon in September 2017. You will be fine just speaking English. All the restaurants, hotels and shop owners know English. Enjoy, it’s a wonderful place!!

We will be spending a the month of May 2019 in Italy. WE plan to travel to the Puglia area from Florence. Is there a train that runs from Rome to the area? Also we’ll be going to Naples/Amalfi after Puglia. Does a train go to either from Bari? Or should we rent a car?

Yes, there is a train from Rome to Puglia – the main hubs are Bari and Lecce. You can see more info in the transport section of our Puglia post: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/8-towns-not-to-miss-in-puglia/ and check the TrenItalia website for timetables (make sure you use Italian place names eg. Roma and Napoli).

You could also get the train from Bari to Naples, but you have to change trains (usually in Caserta). From Naples you’ll most likely have to get a bus to the Amalfi towns depending on where you want to visit as trains are limited.

It’s definitely possible to visit Puglia and Amalfi without a car, but it is easier with one as public transport can be slow and infrequent.

Have a great trip!

Looking at going to Matera in June. We are vegan and grain free due to Diabetes. We will need to make our own food. Are there open air markets to get fresh vegetables? Also, is there enough to experience there that isn’t restaurant/food based?

Yes, there’s a daily morning market: https://www.foodwinetravel.com.au/food/markets/central-market-matera-italy/

And yes, Matera is about a lot more than food—it’s a stunning place that’s just wonderful to wander around. You might find you can enjoy the antipasti in some of the restaurants—it’s very vegetable based and can be big enough for a meal. It might help to learn to say what you can’t eat in Italian. Have a great trip!

Thank you for the information. If each city we go to has a market like this we are going to be just fine. I guess I’m just getting nervous.

You won’t struggle to find fantastic vegetables in Italy! Enjoy!

I am LITERALLY booking AirBNB’s for Matera & Bari this weekend, flights are already booked for next month (Feb 2019) and my husband and I are so looking forward to exploring an incredible place like Matera! I would welcome any recommendations you may have on the number of nights you think would be good for each spot? We’re travelling for 2 weeks (International flight in/out of Rome, then taking a train to the SE), have been to Italy before just not the SE side and thought we’d spend this time ‘getting lost’ in only a couple (2-3) smaller towns. Your blog has some great resources, thanks for putting this all out there for us to utilize. Safe & Happy Travels!

Thank’s I meen this one of he most explicite travel reportage I never found on the web.

This site has sure peeked our interest….what would you suggest for a two week tour …..we have been to the Amalfi and Vienna and all places in the middle..Tuscany, that is……Now we are interested in southern Italy…..your Blog on Materra is wonderful. …Sny suggestions would be appreciated…we are thinking Sept 2019 ….Paddy, Ontario, Canada

Hi Paddy, I recommend checking out our Puglia post ( https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/8-towns-not-to-miss-in-puglia/ ) and combining Puglia with Matera. It’s best to rent a car if possible and you could have bases in Matera, the Valle d’Itria (near Ostuni), and the Salento (near Lecce). From those areas you’d be able to explore lots of other places on day trips. We absolutely love this part of Italy!

We were there last winter, loved everything about it. Stuffed our luggage with cruschi peppers!

We were just there last week. Old part of town(Sassi) is very interesting. What isn’t mentioned is there is a newer and thriving city above on top of the plateau. We did a lot of walking and lots of stairs, good shoes are a must. We also took a tour in a Piaggio, which I found amusing. Thre are some caves converted to display life about the time of the govt relocation plan. 35000 years of continuous occupation. Hike or take a taxi to the other side to see primitive caves and use your imagination.

We are planning on spending two nights in Matera for our honeymoon :) Date: 12th August-14th August.

Could you give us some suggestions and advice on the best place to stay (we are traveling on a budget and like the idea of clean, simple, safe bed and breakfasts) and some of the best things to do in Matera!

Look forward to hearing back Gina and Benni

We highly recommend B&B La Corte dei Pastori, which we wrote about in the post. The breakfast with a view would be a nice touch for your honeymoon. You can book it here: https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/la-corte-dei-pastori.en-gb.html?aid=379621&label=matera

The best thing to do is just wander!

Stop in at the IDRIS CAFE. the couple who own it are so hospitable and it is very small and they deserve the business as anyone with a business there does. It is a thriving area. Mind you, in that part of Italy, they do stick to the “nothing is open between 1-4” and then from 4-7 menus are limited as dinner is served beginning at 7. It is not as much about making the money as the Americans . We spent three wonderful days there. You will find wonderful food and service no matter where you go . And the education you will receive is abundant. We did this area on a bike trip and made our way to Lecce and Ostuni. Have a blast and Congratulations!!!!!

It’s me again, I came across my travel log and Idris cafe is owned by Phillipo and his wife Anna. We also ate at a great place called SOUL KITCHEN. PANECOTTO is another

I was in Matera in May and it was fabulous. Be sure to bring some comfy and flat shoes. It was fabulous.

Good tip! The best way to explore is on foot.

I have been to Matera and absolutely love this region! I have clients going there in April! May I share your post with them? It has so much great information that I know they will love!

Of course, I hope they find it useful.

Thank you for visiting our beautiful home town of Matera and thank you for such a beautiful blog post about our special town.

Matera is just the start of what our region, Basilicata, has to offer. It is a region rich with beautiful places, incredible countryside and hospitable people. Truly you can experience a more authentic Italy here and for the last year we’ve been developing a project that will let you see the culture, taste the food and meet the people through the eyes of our Italian family and the local people. We’d love to welcome everyone to see an Italy Undisturbed with us at http://www.lalucana.com

Thanks again for a great post about our unique city!

I am leaving for Matera and Puglia in 2 days. I’ve wanted to travel there since I first read about it

Wonderful – enjoy!

Erin, great post. I plan trip in October and am looking for a driver to transport me to Tricarico(1 hour west) and back for an afternoon. I have relatives their and want to do some ancestral sleuthing. Any recommendations?

I’m afraid I don’t know anyone. Maybe ask your hotel? It sounds like a fun trip!

I have booked a 2 night stay in Matera mid-september 2017… so looking forward to it. The information and pictures on this site only serve to pique my curiosity even more! It will be awesome to get lost in Matera!

Have an amazing time! September is a wonderful time to visit.

Oh how I love Matera! Couldn’t agree more that it’s the most spectacular (and peculiar) city in Italy. We stayed for two days two years ago, and since then I’ve been dreaming to go back and burst with joy each time I read something (like this) about Matera. :)

Hi! I notice this is not a recent post. But I’m currently checking for our trip to Matera next month. It’s good to pick up a lot of info from your site. One thing I’d like to know, which part of Matera was that pic from the ravine taken from? Is that near the duomo side? I would like to explore the place outside the stone city as well.

I was there in Jan 17 and rented an apartment – Il Tempo Ritrovato – from booking.com. Very close to everything yet not touristy.

Hi Anne, I think the top photo was taken from the Sasso Caveoso area where you can visit uninhabited caves.

The second photo was taken from the more modern side of the city. It’s a small city so it’s easy to walk between both areas.

Have an amazing trip!

Thank you for your feedback Erin! Had a wonderful time in Matera. Unfortunately I couldn’t explore the ravine part as our toddler was with us. Amazing place indeed!

This is the place my grandmother came from. I would love to visit one day.

Is a one day visit enough to see main sites in matera?

Yes but I recommend staying for a few nights if possible as it’s such a special place.

Excellent photos and explanations of cave developments. Our 2 hour walkabout was amazing! Everyone should see how man triumphed with ..not over…his natural surroundings.

Matera is beautiful! I would love to go there one day! When I retired in 5 years, i would love to travel all over Italy and definitely will go to Matera. I;ve been going back in forth to Italy since my sisters and brother still lives there. I love ancient/biblical places! Thanks for the pictures and blogs.

I’m sure you would love Matera. It’s such a special place. Hope you make it there Rea!

I’ll be in Matera for a few days in January, 2017. I know the climbing will be necessary but are there any B&B’s that are a bit closer to ground level?

I don’t remember the hills being too bad around the B&B we recommended in this post. Otherwise you could try finding somewhere in the new part of town, but it will be less atmospheric.

I am going to visit Puglia and especially Matera. In between I am about to launch private journeys to Kerala South India . I am a Keralan by heritage.

My grandfather was born in matera in the late 1800’s. His name was Joseph Pastore, and my Grandmother Angelina came to the US in the early 1900’s. I would love any information anyone has on them. My parents are both now deceased and they had very limited info on my Grandparents.

Many of the Italian civil records for the 1800’s are available, free of charge, online. You can email me at [email protected] and I would be happy to help you.

Matera is the birthplace (Via San Giovanni Vecchio, No.44, Matera) of my maternal grandmother who emigrated to La America in the early part of the 20thC. My mother spoke of this place though she never, nor have I, visited. I am going soon… The dialect in my family was fascinating – I took an Italian class, formal Italian, and when I would try to speak in Italian with my mom we both got blanks! Then when the dialect engaged English, Mama Mia!

I very recently visited Matera and have re-read your blog to remind me of it! Brilliant photos and a clear unsentimental article. Matera is an amazing place, truly special, so glad I visited when I did – it’s been named as European City of Culture 2019 so I don’t suppose the undiscovered feel will last for much longer.

Wonderful travel blog, the photos of Matera are the best I have seen and your description is beautifully written. My family and I stumbled on this exceptional place looking for a place to camp in the off season, traveling from Amafi to the East Coast in Jan 2014. We had the place to ourselves, it was cool, clear and incredible.

Fantastic city Matera! unforgettable experience!

Emily, I thought I’d seen it all having traveled to so many places in the world but this is so incredible – I have to go there and have not seen anything like this place. I wonder why I dont see Matera more on travel shows? Thanks so much for sharing this.

I am taking my lady in February and wondered any recommendations for good eating places please. It looks like a very unique place and looking forward to the trip.

Am looking to purchase a book on Matera, Italy as a gift for my grandson, Dominic Matera. Any suggestions on where to purchase???

Thanks in advance,

Catherine Murphy

I stayed in Matera for 3 nights in May and I agree with you that it wasn’t long enough. We loved it! We spent a day walking through the park across the valley and exploring the ancient caves and cave churches! It was fabulous. We hope to return to Matera one day too.

I love your photos and the detail of information that you give. I am off the Puglia in May 2014 and have 3 nights in Matera. I am so excited to see this region of Italy. Thanks for sharing.

after seeing the first pic, i thought this was cappadocia! (i was just there). but yea this place is going on my list of places to go for a future italy trip! cheers for sharing

Beautiful place and beautiful photos. I wonder if the caves, like the B&B you stayed in, are too cold in the fall-spring for a comfortable stay. I read about Matera recently because it has applied to be the capital of culture in Europe, which would give it funding for restoration and tourism projects.

I’m not sure. I’d check if they have heating but we’ve been in May and September and it was still hot so I imagine it’s still nice in April and October too.

Yes, the building work to the cave church was because they are sprucing things up for the capital of culture bid.

I had no idea Italy still had malaria until the 50s! Wow! It must have been such a different place. The contrast between the setting and the ancient look of the town with your super modern B&B is quite remarkable; what a magical place!

It’s shocking isn’t it? I just read Delizia a history of Italian food and many people in Italy were starving into the late 50s/early 60s when manufacturing increased in northern Italy and the country’s economy grew dramatically. Before then it was quite rural and poor, especially in the south (hence all the immigration to the US and Argentina/Brazil).

Only spent one day/night there in September en route north from Puglia – and, like you, could have spent many more just wandering around the place – will definitely be back.

What a special place! I haven’t been to Matera, though I did get to visit some really unique places my last trip to Italy. I don’t know how I missed this! Adding it to the list for next time :)

There are just so many incredible places in Italy aren’t there? It does amaze us that Matera isn’t better known.

Love this, I just wrote about Matera too, I was there in July – did we overlap? I am glad you all noticed what a special place this is too! I can’t wait to go back :)

Glad you enjoyed it too Liz. We were there in September. It was our second visit and we know there will be more :)

Great photos! I just love seeing towns/villages that build into the earth!

Thanks Angela. It’s an incredible feat of architecture isn’t it?

Wow. This just shot to the top of my must visit in Italy list. I’m guessing it will be worthwhile delaying it until next spring now though for the good weather.

Spring would be gorgeous with all the wildflowers everywhere and the ravine would be greener. Hope you make it there.

Simply stunning! And the food looks good too. Hope I can visit one day.

The food is definitely a highlight of a trip there.

Complimenti per la vostra bellissima e coraggiosa scelta di vita. Grazie dal Ristorante del Caveoso!

What a beautiful city.

How beautiful – this makes me really want to go and explore for hours!

On both visits we made the mistake of only booking a few nights. There isn’t a huge amount of typical things to do but we could easily spend a month living there and discovering new alleyways and getting lost for hours.

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How to spend a weekend in Matera, Italy's rock-hewn city

This ancient city offers an enticing Italian getaway with its frescoed churches, Michelin stars and underground art. 

It’s a remarkable rags-to-riches story. Carved into a remote ravine in the Basilicata countryside, in the instep of Italy’s boot,   Matera was once dubbed ‘the shame of Italy’ for its caves that housed the city’s poor and exploited rural workers; by the 1970s, it’d become a ghost town, the first time the settlement had been uninhabited in 10,000 years. Yet a decade later, its evocative beauty lay the foundations for an extraordinary revival, thanks to a group of enterprising local creatives (many descended from the original inhabitants) who spotted its potential. These days, the city’s churches jostle for space with boutique hotels, galleries and restaurants that have themselves been repurposed from former cave dwellings. Matera now has UNESCO status, was Europe’s 2019 Capital of Culture and has even drawn the gaze of Hollywood via Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ and the latest Bond film. Still, Matera’s local traditions and resilient spirit have proved as durable as its stone foundations. Today, the city is surely one of the country’s most extraordinary and beguiling destinations.

Day one: Caves & culture

Daniel Craig might have raced an Aston Martin through Matera’s cobbled alleyways, but a more productive way to explore the city is with a guided walking tour. While some are purpose-built for cinephiles, Martulli Viaggi offers one that focuses on the fascinating story of the fall and rise of Matera from an anthropological perspective — while still pointing out where the film scenes were shot. Tours wind through the two Sassi (stone) districts, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano — part of the old town where ancient excavations carved out of the soft limestone are now occupied by hotels, restaurants and museums. For a window into life before the sassi were abandoned, be sure to visit a casa grotta, a museum where the subterranean space has been faithfully modelled to replicate an original cave home.  

As a former European Capital of Culture, Matera has no shortage of fine museums, and the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture is as good a starting point as any, with its spectacular setting and modern masterpieces. You’ll venture deep into a myriad of caverns; there’s a poetic symbolism in the housing of sculptures by contemporary artists like Arnaldo Pomodoro in an environment itself sculpted centuries ago. It’s then a five-minute walk to the Santa Maria de Idris, one of Matera’s 150 frescoed church caves. The church and its crypt’s medieval murals might have paled with time, but it’s still worth visiting for its winning location, lording over the Sassi to the west and the Murgia National Park to the east. Plus, Zipa cafe next door whips up some great cocktails, including z-panch (spiced rum, sweet sage and lemon liqueur).

The 17th-century ‘new’ town, which rests atop the sassi districts, is made for a leisurely evening stroll, with its alleyways spilling out onto piazzas fringed with pretty cafes and gelaterias. Dusk is when Matera’s magic really comes to life: the Sassi’s sandy hues begin to glow in soft pinks and oranges, while lamps twinkle like fairy lights. Nightfall transforms piazza Giovanni Pascoli from sleepy square into a dynamic hub. The place to be is Area 8 , by day a co-working space for creatives and by night a cocktail bar with live music and the occasional cinema screening. For something more exclusive, head around the corner and dip your head into Sasso Caveoso for a dinner of Lucanian black pork and a glass of full-bodied red at the Radino Wine Bar , a celebration of Italy’s wine culture built within — you guessed it — a cave.

Day two: cooking & crypts

If wandering through Matera’s sassis is like travelling back to medieval times, then an amble in the Murgia Materana National Park on the other side of the canyon feels positively prehistoric. It’s a 10-minute drive or, if you’re feeling energetic, you can go on foot using the Belvedere Murgia Timone trailhead next to the car park on the eastern side of the Sassi. It’s a four-mile circular trail, which will see you cross the Gravina canyon by suspension bridge before clambering up 1,000-year-old paths to explore yawning natural caves inhabited since the Stone Age and rock-cut churches frescoed with seventh-century Byzantine art. The views are best at dawn — gaze westwards across the canyon as the sun rises behind you to witness Matera basking in an ethereal glow.

Nowhere does pasta quite like Italy, but the shapes and styles differ from region to region. Learn the secrets of the south with a pasta-making class at Le Dodici Lune , a cave hotel in Sasso Caveoso. You’ll handcraft your own cavatelli and strascinati pasta shells using only rimacinata flour and water before tossing them with turnip tops and garlic. Enjoy with a glass of wine in the hotel’s breezy courtyard. After lunch, you might not feel like you have much of an appetite for any more frescoed churches, but a tour of the Crypt of Original Sin is a must, and sure to take your breath away. Lauded as the Sistine Chapel of cave art, its depictions of biblical scenes and portraits are the best in the region, thanks to the painstaking restoration work that’s been done to preserve them for visitors.  

Enjoy the spell-binding sunset from Piazza Duomo, where you’ll find the cathedral that crowns the city, then head for Via Domenico Ridola, a lively strip of bars and restaurants. Save room for dessert-to-go from I Vizi degli Angeli , a gelato ’laboratory’ that whips up the best sweet treats in the city. When you’re finished, head back to your hotel, which, for the full Matera experience, should be a renovated cave. At Le Grotte della Civita, the bedrooms — candle-lit and embellished with rustic wooden furnishings — combine medieval charm with modern comforts such as underfloor heating. Renovating and restoring the cave was a labour of love and took years as part of a cultural project to conserve the local heritage. The result is among the world’s most unique and unforgettable hotel stays.

Top three Matera museums

1. Domenico Ridola Archaeological Museum

The collection of artefacts, donated by founder and archaeologist Domenico Ridola in 1911, traces the history of human settlement in Matera from the Paleolithic era to the Middle Ages via the Greek occupation. Exhibits include the fossilised ‘Julian whale’ and reproductions of Magna Graecia vases. It forms part of the National Museum of Matera , along with the Museum of Medieval and Modern Art in the splendid Palazzo Lanfranchi.

2. Museum-Workshop of the Peasant Culture

Picking up where the Domenico Ridola leaves off, this museum’s exhibition rooms are reconstructions of craft workshops and homes from Matera’s more recent history. Visit a blacksmith, barber, cobbler and cabinet maker on a tour of peasant life before the evacuation. You can also see a typical cave house and public wine cellar, where peasants would have gathered to relax and chat.

3. Matera Olive Oil Museum

Where else but Matera could you find a 500-year-old olive oil mill in a cave ? A ticket gets you a 30-minute guided tour through the mill’s rooms, including the stable, which housed the donkeys used to turn the mill, as well as the room where the olives were deposited, which is now used for tastings.  

Three more medieval towns to visit

Matera has brought a lot of attention to the lesser-visited southern region of Basilicata, but there are more historic towns and villages in the region that haven’t yet entered the limelight. Here are some of the best.

1. Pietrapertosa

About an hour’s drive west of Matera, the village of Pietrapertosa clings to the jagged slopes of the Lucanian Dolomites. Some of the world’s most celebrated civilisations have left their mark here: the Greeks were first, followed by the Romans, then the Goths, before the Saracens carved a crowning fortress into the cliffside in the 10th century. At an altitude of over 3,000ft, Pietrapertosa is Basilicata’s loftiest town, a shade higher than its neighbour, Castelmezzano. This equally striking village can be reached from Pietrapertosa by the Path of the Seven Stones trail or by zip-line: Il Volo dell’Angelo (the Flight of the Angels) will whisk you between the two, superman-style, at speeds of up to 75mph.

Maratea is also known as the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian, and it’s not at all difficult to see why. Watched over by a 70ft statue of Christ from the summit of Monte San Biagio, Maratea is made up of a scattering of small communities nestled in the leafy coastal hillside. Just like Matera, you can expect to encounter centuries-old frescoes in the old town’s churches, but the caves here have a different character: the countless, sea-cut caverns that pock the coastline house magnificent stalactites and stalagmites. Maratea is also a perfect place to stop off on a road trip through southern Italy: the coastal road overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea’s turquoise waters is on par with the famed Amalfi Drive — only without the traffic.

There are enough crumbling churches and castle ruins in Rotonda to keep history buffs busy, but outdoor adventures are its main draw. This is one of the best jumping-off points to explore the   Pollino National Park , which is among Italy’s largest protected wildernesses and sweeps over mountain ridges and river canyons from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Ionian coast. The national park headquarters in Rotonda are a useful resource: book a certified guide through them or count on their extensive knowledge of the best hiking and mountain biking trails to plot your own course through the old-growth forests, where rare Bosnian pines grow   and Apennine wolves roam.

Top five cave restaurants

1. Trattoria del Caveoso

For portions of pasta piled high, make a beeline for Trattoria del Caveoso . Traditional dishes made with local produce are the name of the game here: expect regional cheeses and cold cuts to start, followed by fresh cavatelli with crispy crusco peppers or turnip greens.  

2. Vitantonio Lombardo Ristorante

Basilicata-born chef Vitantonio Lombardo’s restaurant brought the very first Michelin star to Matera with a menu that draws lovingly on the city’s story — think pasta in traditional legume soup. Opt for the pancia tasting menu with wine pairing for a culinary tour-de-force.

3. Regiacorte

The youthful team behind this upmarket restaurant in the Sassi aren’t afraid to go bold with offerings like octopus parmigiana and sweet cinnamon ricotta as a main. Dishes are as much a feast for the eyes as for the belly.

Sheep stew and black pork cheek are some of the classic local dishes served at little La Lopa , but you shouldn’t overlook the offerings from the vegetable garden, too. Don’t be put off by the crapiata’s name — it’s a delicious mixed vegetable soup.

5. Crialoss

Scenic dinner spots in Matera aren’t as common as you’d think — grand residences in the 17th-century new town were typically built to face the piazzas, literally turning their back on the Sassis below — which makes the panoramic views from this bistro’s terrace even more special. Expect to see ricotta puff pastries and sharing platters of cured meats.  

How to do it

The nearest airport to Matera is Bari. Ryanair flies from Stansted and   Wizz Air from Gatwick, with a flight time of around three hours.   From Bari, European travel operator   Omio runs a regular bus service to Matera, which takes just over an hour. Prices start at €3 (£2.65) each way. The Sextantio le Grotte della Civita has doubles from €250 (£220), B & B.

Published in the March 2023 issue of  National Geographic Traveller (UK)  

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Best of Matera (Italy): The Ultimate Travel Guide

Matera – what a city! The first time you lay eyes on the rock city of Matera, you can’t help but be amazed.

It’s like something out of a detailed picture book, with sand-coloured house facades stacked side by side and on top of each other. The scene leaves you speechless, reminiscent of a stage set or a movie backdrop. It’s all in shades of tone , thanks to the nearly “colourless” stone Matera is renowned for, creating a memory that deeply imprints itself in your mind.

Believe it or not, behind these facades lie ancient cave dwellings . Once (and not too long ago), people here lived in the most impoverished conditions in tiny cave homes.

In this travel guide, we’ll introduce you to the spectacular rock city of Matera. We’ll show you the most beautiful sights and share our personal tips for your journey. Here is your complete travel guide to Matera.

1. Matera in Italy: First Travel Tips at a Glance

Key information & fascinating facts about matera.

• Matera’s old town is made up of cave dwellings , known as “Sassi”, which were carved into the tuff stone and later covered with facades.
• It’s no surprise then that “Sassi” translates to “stones”. When you first see Matera, a literal sea of stones unfolds before you. Don’t be confused: “Sassi” also refers to the two old town districts, Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso .
• Matera is ancient. The area has likely been inhabited since the Neolithic period, making it one of the oldest cities in the world .
• Until the 1950s, the people of Matera lived in extreme poverty – without running water, sewage systems, electricity, and with a child mortality rate of nearly 50 percent. Consequently, the Sassi were evacuated.
• It was only in the 1980s that the Italian government recognized the cultural value of Matera’s old town. With the help of subsidies, the caves were gradually renovated.
• Today, Matera is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was the European Capital of Culture in 2019 .

How Many Days Should I Plan for Matera?

While some may visit Matera only as a day trip , we strongly recommend staying overnight. The atmosphere in the evening and morning hours is truly special, plus there’s quite a lot to see.

One night is the bare minimum for a stay in Matera, in our view. Two nights are much better, and with three nights, you might even have a chance to explore some of the scenic surrounding areas.

2. Matera Travel Guide: Top Things to See

Old town of matera = a total work of art.

Let’s start our Matera Travel Guide with Matera’s most significant attraction , which acts as a grand unifier: The Old Town. Before we delve into specific buildings in Matera, we’d like to share some general info about the Old Town.

Matera’s Old Town is a sprawling labyrinth of stairs (loads of them!), narrow alleys, and squares. The Old Town consists of two districts: Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso . Hence, Matera’s historical Old Town is also known as Sassi di Matera .

Don’t even try to keep your bearings . It’s basically impossible to truly navigate Matera. Google Maps was our best mate here, and yes, you might end up climbing stairs in vain because you’ve hit a dead end.

A little tip: Matera has marked routes (“itinerario”). They lead you along the main routes to the most important attractions. So, if you don’t want to get completely lost in the maze of alleys, you can stick to these markers.

Rock Churches in Matera

The impressive rock churches (“Chiese rupestri”) are among the most famous attractions in the historic Old Town of Matera. As the name suggests, these are churches carved into stone .

Their unique cave architecture is nothing like the interior of a church as you’d typically imagine. Therefore, visiting at least one of Matera’s rock churches is, in our eyes, a must. The three most renowned rock churches are:

• San Pietro Barisano
• Santa Lucia alle Malve
• Santa Maria de Idris

What’s especially remarkable, apart from their unique ambiance, are the frescoes inside these churches. If you’re visiting the rock churches without a guide, be sure to grab the info folder available in each church (in several languages). This way, you’ll at least get to know some historical details.

Overview of Visiting the Rock Churches of Matera

Admission : 1 church 4 Euros, combined ticket for 3 churches 8 Euros Photography : Not allowed inside – even without a flash.

Cathedral of Matera

Perched at the highest point of the city , nestled between the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, stands the colossal Cathedral of Matera.

This imposing structure dates back to the 13th century and was built in the Apulian-Romanesque style. The cathedral is not just striking from the outside; we also recommend a peek inside. You can visit the cathedral for a euro.

Also worth noting is the view of Matera from the square in front of the cathedral, the Piazza Duomo. From up here, Matera looks like a movie set.

Palombaro Lungo

Quite impressive: Beneath Matera, there once were five public cisterns (and numerous private ones) for the city’s water supply . The largest of these, Palombaro Lungo, is open for visits.

From Piazza Vittorio Veneto, stairs lead down into the massive cave system . This cistern dates back to the 16th century. Like everything in Matera, these caves were made by human hand.

A narrow path takes you over water through the cistern and back again. You’ll quickly see everything but might want to linger longer because the dimensions are truly impressive.

Overview of Visiting Palombaro Lungo

Admission : 3 Euros Opening hours and more info : Palombaro Lungo (official website)

Casa Grotta nei Sassi di Matera

Want a glimpse into life in the cave dwellings of the past ? In Matera, there are several accessible homes that have been converted into museums. We visited one of the most famous of these rock dwellings, known as Casa Grotta nei Sassi di Matera .

Don’t expect a classic, spacious museum – quite the opposite. Remember: the cave dwellings of the past were small and dark. The whole family, including livestock, lived in just a few square meters. Unimaginable!

You can play an audio guide on your smartphone. We personally found the additional background information quite fascinating.

Overview of Visiting the Casa Grotta

Admission : 5 Euros Our Tip : It can get pretty cramped inside. If you don’t want to step on each other’s toes, it’s probably best to visit early or late. Opening hours and more info : Casa Grotta (official website)

3. The Most Beautiful Viewpoints in Matera

If you ask us, the most spectacular thing about Matera is the breathtaking view of the city. From any perspective, the sea of stone houses is just such an impressively stunning photo op. No words!

Don’t worry: As you explore Matera, you’ll likely come across most of the viewpoints anyway. But we still want to share our favourite vistas in this chapter.

Convento Sant’Agostino

We like to call it the “signature view”. Or postcard shot . Either way, one of the most famous views of Matera can be enjoyed from the forecourt of the Convento Sant’Agostino. From a distance, you get a really great panorama.

Our tip: Just a few minutes from here is the Crialoss Café. From its terrace, you enjoy a very similar view, but you can celebrate it even better with a drink.

Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio

From this small, hidden observation terrace, you also have a fantastic view of Matera. This viewpoint is located right at the expansive Piazza Vittorio Veneto, is free of charge, and accessible around the clock.

Belvedere of Piazza Giovanni Pascoli

Located in the southern part of the Old Town, this small square offers another splendid panoramic view over Matera. We were there in the evening, just after the city lights came on – very atmospheric!

Belvedere Murgia Timone

Last but certainly not least: The Belvedere Murgia Timone. This one is a bit different as it’s not located in the Old Town but on the other side of the canyon . From here, you get a distant view of Matera.

Another unique aspect is the hike to get there. This viewpoint can be reached after about a 40-minute walk . It starts with a descent from Matera’s Old Town into the canyon to the Ponte Tibetano della Gravina. After crossing this suspension bridge , you then ascend in switchbacks on the other side to the viewpoint.

For those who are fit and mobile, we highly recommend this hike. The entire scenery in the canyon and the view from the lookout are extremely worthwhile.

A little tip: If you prefer not to tackle so many elevation changes, you can alternatively drive to the other side. From the car park, it’s about a 1.5-kilometer walk (but flat). Personally, we find the hike down into the valley very rewarding and would choose it again (provided the hiking trail is open!).

4. Food & Drink: Culinary Travel Guide for Matera

The bad news first: The culinary offerings in the Old Town of Matera are quite touristy . Or in other words, you’re more likely to find tourists than locals at many of the restaurants. But no worries, we still ate very well. Here are our favourites:

Osteria al Casale : A very nice osteria built into a rock with rather minimalist decor. When the weather’s good, you can also sit outside at one of the tables in front of the restaurant. They serve classic Italian cuisine (antipasti, pasta, pizza, lots of meat and fish). Good value for money and very friendly service. Definitely recommended.

La Lopa : A very popular, somewhat hip restaurant in the Old Town of Matera. The menu features Italian classics – some with a modern twist. Make sure to book in advance!

Crialoss : “The place to be” for a drink with a view. From the terrace of this café, you enjoy a fantastic view over Matera. Especially in the evening, when the setting sun bathes Matera in beautiful light, it’s worth a visit.

I Vizi degli Angeli : One of the best ice cream parlours in town. They have both classic and more unusual flavours.

Area 8 : A pretty cool retro-style bar. If you’re looking for a cocktail in the evening, this is the spot. If you arrive hungry, they also offer food, including tapas and burgers.

5. Our Accommodation Recommendation for Matera

The most authentic way to stay in Matera is, of course, to choose accommodation directly in the historic Old Town (Sassi di Matera). Many stylishly renovated cave dwellings are particularly popular.

But be careful: It’s not uncommon for these cave rooms to have a moisture problem and very little (to no) daylight. So, we opted for a “happy medium” and booked a “Deluxe Room” at Ai Maestri Rooms & Cafe – the best decision !

They’ve wonderfully combined the cave ambiance with modern, stylish elements . The entire setup (bed, beddings, TV, etc.) is of very high quality, and the bathroom is an absolute highlight.

Two minor drawbacks: Our room was on the ground floor next to the breakfast room. If someone talks loudly in the morning, you might hear it. And the breakfast, considering the price, could have been better – especially compared to other accommodations we stayed at in Apulia.

Aside from that, we highly recommend this place. You feel very welcome and comfortable, largely thanks to the extremely helpful owners. We would return in a heartbeat.

You can book the accommodation here: Ai Maestri Rooms & Cafe

6. Map: An Overview of All Attractions and Tips of this Travel Guide

To make navigating Matera a bit easier, we’ve marked all the attractions and our tips for Matera on this map. A little tip: If you click on the rectangle at the top right, you can save the map in the Google Maps app on your smartphone.

7. Matera Travel Guide: Additional Tips on Arrival, Parking, Safety, etc.

Location: where is matera.

Matera is located in Southern Italy, more precisely in the Basilicata region . It’s a great idea to visit Matera as part of an Puglia road trip . Strictly speaking, Matera is just outside of Apulia, but the short detour is definitely worth it.

Arrival: How Do I Get to Matera?

The nearest major airport is in Bari. There are direct flights from many cities in the German-speaking region (including Vienna, Frankfurt, Berlin, and many more).

If you’re planning a road trip, it’s best to rent a car directly at Bari Airport. The drive from the airport to Matera takes about an hour. We personally like to book our rental cars through Sunny Cars .

You can book your rental car here: Sunny Cars

If you’re “only” traveling to Matera, we would rather suggest booking a private transfer from the airport to Matera (or taking a train/bus). In Matera itself, a car is pretty much useless – more on that shortly.

Parking: Where Can I Park in Matera?

First and foremost, the historic Old Town of Matera is a restricted traffic zone . This means only selected vehicles are allowed to drive there (and even then, only along a few streets, as most alleys are simply not drivable).

So, you’ll need to park your car outside the restricted zone . The closer the parking garages are to the Old Town, the more expensive they typically are. Theoretically, you can walk from some parking garages to your accommodation (if you have little luggage). But be warned: it’s often uphill and downhill. We would only choose this option if your accommodation is really close by.

We opted for the much more comfortable valet parking from “TA&Co autoparcheggio” (booked through our accommodation). This parking garage is located outside of Matera. We were picked up from the garage and taken directly to our accommodation. The price is 35 Euros per day – including shuttle to the hotel and back.

Safety: Is Matera Safe?

A quick Google search will reveal numerous horror stories about car thefts and break-ins in Southern Italy . And it should not be sugar-coated: this is indeed a problem in the south of Italy.

There’s a reason why you get a folder with safety tips along with your rental car contract. But, to offer some reassurance: nothing of the sort happened to us. Niente!

Here are some tips for traveling safely through Southern Italy, including Matera:

• Always carry valuables like phones, money, etc., securely and not visibly. For example, the back pocket is off-limits. Valuables should never (!) be left in the car. Not even hidden in the glove compartment.
• If your hotel room has a safe , you can also store valuables in it.
• We personally did not make any stops with luggage in the trunk (e.g., to visit a city for a few hours). We always checked in first and then continued with an empty car.
• Regarding driving : we can only advise driving as defensively as possible. The driving style of the Italians can be hair-raising at times.

Disclaimer: Affiliate Links

This travel guide contains our personal recommendations in the form of affiliate links. Which means if you book or purchase something via these links, you still pay the same (nothing changes for you) — while we receive a small commission for sharing! So it really means a lot to us and we want to say a massive thank you from us both!

Have you already visited the impressive city of Matera? How did you find it? Do you have any more tips you’d like to share with us? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below this travel guide!

You might also be interested in this

Best of Bari: Our Travel Guide, Tips & Favourite Spots

Ostuni Travel Guide: Travel Tips for the White City of Puglia

Salento Travel Guide: Puglia’s Spectacular Peninsula

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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Matera

Matera, the City of Caves, was once a poor community that didn’t attract much attention from tourists, despite being an ancient city etched into the surrounding limestone rocks that has been populated since Palaeolithic times, some 7,000 years ago.

The residents of Matera built their homes in caves that they dug out of the landscape, which secretly conceals a network of caves, creating a troglodyte village which remains standing until this day.

The city was once known as “the shame of Italy” due to the extreme poverty and being riddled with malaria, but it emerged from obscurity in 1945, when the famous Author and Painter Carlo Levi published “Christ Stopped at Eboli” highlighting the plight of Matera’s people in his memoir.

Due to the public outcry that such poverty and squalor existed, the Matera officials re-established the townspeople in modern housing and even relocated them to other towns, and by 1950, it was fully evacuated, leaving the city was walled up and forgotten.

In the 1980s, a group of the political class decided to restore the Sassi and their work brought the attention of UNESCO to Matera, in 1993 it was named a UNESCO Heritage Site.

This magical city transports you to another era and is so similar to settlements found in the Holy Land that the town has been used in numerous films and TV series as a backdrop for Jerusalem. The most famous being Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” which propelled Matera into the public eye.

Tourists started to flock to Matera to explore their winding alleyways and rustic cave dwellings and the tide has turned for this city so much that this year it was voted the European Capital of Culture 2019. Matera is the perfect example of a city that has thrived and flourished due to tourism and is now one of Italy’s hidden gems.

The city is incredible for history buffs and there are plenty of churches, grottoes and convents that go back as far as the middle ages. There are now charming cave restaurants, cave cafes and you can even sleep inside one of the rustic cave houses for an unforgettable experience.

This ultimate travel guide to Matera will show you all the most beautiful places in Matera, what to expect when visiting, where to stay in Matera and things to do in Matera which will help you in planning a trip to Matera.

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Table of Contents

How to get to Matera

Matera by air: Fly into Bari’s main airport and from there you can find an airport shuttle that takes you directly to Matera, prices start from only €3.

Matera by bus: There are various services connecting major cities with Matera, from Rome, Pisa, Siena or Florence there are services running with the Marozzi and Liscio buses. Matera is also connected to Bologna and Petruzzi bus lines runs a regular service.

From Milan, Bologna, Naples and Ancona you can take Marino Buses. All the various bus companies have differing prices for their services and it’s best to use a free booking app such as GO EURO where you can find the best prices for travelling from one city to another.

Matera by train: The most convenient way to get to Matera is to take the train from the city of Bari, the journey is very fast and cheap, costing only €5 for the hour and a half journey.

Matera by car: You can fly to Naples and drive to Matera, a four-hour drive from the city. There are car rental places at Naples airport.

What to expect in Matera

Matera is a sprawling Italian city which is composed of the Sassi, or historic centre, and the more modernised outskirts. In the centre there are many winding alleyways and stairs and the city requires a lot of walking. A pair of good walking shoes or comfortable trainers is a must.

Electricity is a standard 230 Volts in Italy and there is a three pronged socket that will probably require an adaptor. It is advisable to bring an extra camera battery or battery pack for exploring the city so that you won’t be caught out without any battery after wandering around the city.

The language spoken is Italian and the currency is the Euro. English is spoken in some more touristy hotels and restaurants, but a lot of people in the city don’t speak much English.

Hiring a local guide, using google translate and having a local map handy is a great way to help you get around the city if you don’t speak Italian. People are helpful and your hotel or restaurant and bar staff may be willing to help you if you require.

Matera is not an expensive destination and a meal costs around €20 per person, entrance to museums and churches only cost a few Euro, whilst there are many free places to explore in the Sassi.

For budget travellers, you can make do with a daily budget of around €100 including food and accommodation, for midrange budgets it is advisable to budget up to €250 per day. Since the rise of Matera due to its fame in movies, prices for cave hotels have increased significantly but there are still some hidden gems under €100 per night.

Tipping is common in Italy despite a service charge, or “coperto” being included in the bill, it is usual to tip around 10 – 15% of the bill.

Matera is growing into a booming tourist destination but has not yet reached peak popularity as yet, there are some tourist buses that come in for a daytrip, these usually depart by lunchtime so the city is quieter in the afternoon and evening if you want to avoid the crowds.

Staying in Matera itself will allow you more freedom and flexibility to take your time to explore in the quieter periods of the day.

How to get around Matera

Matera is a great city for exploring on foot, as there are plenty of hidden alleys and winding stairways that mean that you will be exhausted after a day’s walk around the city.

There are some sights that are worth visiting a little further out of the city and the easiest way to reach them is by car. There are some car rentals in Matera itself if you prefer to rent just for the day.

A public bus service runs from Matera to connect it with local points of interest. Alternatively, you can also hire a taxi to get around the city itself, there are several agencies which you can call ahead to book your taxi and your hotel, or restaurants may be more than happy to call and arrange a taxi for you as not everyone speaks English.

In fact, most taxi drivers don’t speak English so a map or google translate will be sure to come in handy!

The best time to visit Matera

Italy is best visited in the springtime and autumn. In the summer, the temperatures tend to be high and the city can be humid and sweltering.

The benefit of the cave dwellings is that caves often maintain cooler temperatures in the summer and keep in the warmth in the winter.

The best time to visit Matera is in early autumn, from September to October, when prices for accommodation are slightly cheaper. Summer is often the most expensive time to visit.

Things to do in Matera

Learn about the history of matera at casa noha.

For a brief introduction to the tragic and inspiring history of the Sassi, head to Casa Noha which is a small museum run by local families which have a 25-minute-long multimedia exhibit about the history of the city.

The price is only €5 per person and you will gain greater insight into the city and its often tragic history before heading off to explore on foot.

Lose yourself in the Sassi

The historic centre of the Sassi is divided into two sections, the Sassi Barisano and Sassi Caveoso, the neighbourhood is best explored on foot and it is possible to spend an entire day losing yourself in the historic alleyways and discovering the winding paths of the city.

You can discover little havens of paradise in the hidden courtyards with vibrant cacti and the higher you ascend, the more spectacular the views. Walking around, you can feel like a time traveller and you can discover the two sides of the Sassi.

Sassi Barisano is more developed for tourism and there are cafes, hotels restaurants and plenty of trendy places to discover, whilst in the Sassi Caveoso you can discover the more historic buildings of the city.

Some of these caves have been closed to visitors due to safety concerns but you can still catch a glimpse of life in another time by wandering around this area of the historic centre.

Visit the Matera Cathedral

Matera boasts a stunning 13 th century cathedral that can be found at the highest vantage point of Matera at Civitas Hill, straddling both neighbourhoods of Sassi.

The cathedral has undergone significant restoration which lasted over ten years and has only recently opened to the public. From the cathedral you can take in the spectacular views over the sprawling city.

Frescoes, frescoes and more frescoes

There are many churches to explore in Matera, most of which are Rupestrian churches. These churches have been built into the surrounding stone and are home to stunning frescoes.

The most notable churches and convents include: Convento Di Sant’Agostino, Chiesa Rupestre di Santa Lucia Alle Malve, Chiesa di Santa Maria di Idris and San Giovannni, Convincio di Sant’Antonio and more.

A window into the past at Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario

Casa Grotta offers an insight into life in one of the traditional cave houses of Matera. Here you can see how locals once lived until the 1950s!

The house has a collection of artifacts including furniture and tools from Matera’s past and entrance only costs €3 per person.

Visit a lookout point

The city is best seen from a high vantage point and aside from the spectacular views from Matera cathedral you can find numerous areas of the city that will reward you with breathtaking panoramas.

Another favourite is the Convent of Saint Augustino where you can see some spectacular views of the city.

Modern art at Musma

Matera has its own museum of modern art which was refurbished from a cave palace built in the 17 th century. An entrance ticket only costs €5 per person.

Explore the Palaeolithic caves

From Sassi you can explore the caves that date back to over 7,000 years ago! To get there you can cross the ravine on foot.

The path starts just next to Via Modonna della Virtù, where you can cross a hanging bridge that crosses the river and take any of the small hiking paths upwards, the best times to go are very early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat, good walking shoes and drinking water should be carried with you on the hike.

What to eat in Matera

Small pasta shapes made from semolina are a traditional favourite in Matera, and served up with vegetables or mushrooms.

Some of the best Cucina Povera, or poor man’s cuisine can be found at La Finestra Sui Sassi, where you can taste some down-to-earth Materan cuisine.

Lucanica sausages

This traditional pork sausage is seasoned with pepperoncino, fennel, salt and pepper and comes from pigs that live in the region and have been made following a traditional recipe since Roman times.

The Materans love their cold deli meats and the best place to try a dish of the local specialties is the Trattoria del Caveoso, a cave restaurant that offers thin, buttery, melt-in-your mouth slices of local meats.

Matera Bread

This crusty and famous Italian bread is made from durum wheat, the bread is still made following the ancient baking process and is a perfect accompaniment to local cheeses and sausages.

Peperone di Senise

In the Basilicata region, the vibrant red Senise pepper is the star of the show. It is used in most of the cooking and most sauces will have a hint of this sun-dried pepper.

It is often preserved and even served with meat or grilled. Be sure to try the Peperoni Cruschi, peppers fried in aromatic olive oil and served up as a small snack.

A fantastic restaurant is San Biagio on Via San Biagio, 12, where you can watch the sunset on the terrace and enjoy local dishes flavoured with the famous Senise peppers.

Matera pasta

The Basilicata region is said to be the origin of over ten different types of pasta shapes including the “Orecchiette” or “little ears” and there are wonderful restaurants in Matera where you can try the different pastas.

One of the best is Il Cantucchio, Via delle Beccherie, 33, which only has 10 tables so booking several days in advance is a must! The orrechiette here is some of the best you’ll taste and they have excellent slow food such as braised rabbit.

If you need something to keep you going whilst you are exploring the city head to Piada, Via Della Beccherie, 45, and pick up the ultimate street food, the Piada.

This is a sandwich made of flat bread and other forms resemble a type of stuffed bread or pizza. This street food is served up with a variety of fresh local ingredients including the local meat, eggplant, cheeses always with a sprinkling of oregano and a drizzle of local olive oil.

Where to stay in Matera

If you come to Matera, where should you stay other than a cave hotel? Here are some of the very best to suit every budget (and a hostel if a cave hotel is beyond your budget) including Airbnb:

The Rock Hostel – This hostel is the perfect budget solution to stay in the heart of Sassi with shared bathrooms and lockers.

L’Hotel in Pietra – This charming budget hotel is built upon an ancient Rupestrian church, the reception area was once an altar and there are views out onto the historic city. The hotel also offers a parking service for an additional fee.

The hotel staff are friendly and there is a gorgeous terrace where you can enjoy the views. The rooms also have unique period features, room 1004 has an original stone bath, whilst room 1003 has an underground hot tub!

As is typical in a cave house, the rooms are prone to dampness but they try to rectify it with dehumidifiers.

Il Palazzotto Residence & Winery – This hotel was built in a 16 th century noble residence carved into the limestone caves and is a great spa hotel with massages and beauty treatments in your room and regular wine tastings and cooking lessons.

Rooms combine the modern and the traditional with a minimalistic atmosphere, if you book upstairs you can enjoy spectacular views from a Juliet balcony and sleep underneath a wooden vaulted ceiling.

Palazzo Viceconte Matera – This hotel is built on the site of a Palazzo, or aristocratic residence, and you can feel as if you are staying in a regal palace decorated with elegant chandeliers, antiques and paintings.

The hotel boasts 14 regal rooms which are sumptuously decorated and perfect for a romantic getaway, you can also have massage treatments in your room and parking for €18 per day.

The stunning hotel bar has a terrace overlooking Matera and there is a buffet breakfast included in the price.

Tours to do in Matera

Cooking class in Matera

Learn how to make traditional poor man’s cuisine in a wonderful three-hour cooking class. This hands –on class will give you the opportunity to learn how to make pasta from scratch and enjoy a tasting of the meals that you create accompanied with the local wine.

The class is hosted in the home of the chef and she will teach you about the local ingredients and experience the best of Matera’s hearty cuisine.

A guided tour of Matera

This two-hour guided tour will take you to explore the attractions of Matera including the Church of San Pietro Caveoso, Palazzo Lanfranchi, the cave houses and even where “The Passion of the Christ” was filmed. This guided tour will give you depth and insight into the incredible city of Matera.

Day trips from Matera

The Stunning Baroque Bari is o nly 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Matera and is also accessible by bus.

The beautiful coastal city is an important Roman Catholic pilgrimage destination who come to visit the cathedral di San Sabino and the Basilica of San Nicola. There is also a Norman castle that has stood in Bari since the 1100s which can be explored.

The most enchanting part of Bari is its old town, where you can get lost in the cobblestone streets and discover the city on foot.

As this is a coastal city you can wander the seafront promenade called Lungomare Nazario Sauro and take in the sea air and the local atmosphere.

There is even a golden-sand beach just east of the historic centre called Lido San Francesco to enjoy a swim and sunbathe amidst the locals.

Lecce is a beautiful city with a wealth of historical sights situated just over two hours’ drive from Matera, amongst them a beautiful Baroque Basilica of Santa Croce and the impressive 17 th century Cathedral.

There are several charming squares such as the Piazza del Duomo and the Piazza Sant’Oronzo where you can take in the monuments and Baroque architecture.

At the Piazza Sant’Oronzo you can find the Roman Amphitheatre which dates back to the 2 nd century AD, here you can go on a guided tour and get a feel for what this amphitheatre must have been like in Roman times.

Lecce also has its own defensive fortified castle that was constructed in the 16 th century when Charles V ruled.

As Lecce was once part of the defensive network of the coastal cities of Italy, Porto Napoli is one of the relics of its network and you can appreciate the majesty of the fortifications.

Recommend budget tours in Matera

• Discover Matera Walking Tour
• Guided Tour Sassi di Matera: Sasso Caveoso and Civita
• Italian Hands-on Private Cooking Class in Matera
• Full-Day Tour of Matera
• Matera Hot Air Balloon Tour
• Miglionico tour: Castle and Polyptych will surprise you
• Tricarico walking tour: the Arab-Norman town
• Crypt of Original Sin tour with transfer

Get your guide is a Great company, that often offers heavily discounted tours! Check out a few options below:

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Sam, a seasoned traveler across four continents and 49 countries, is a leading authority in travel planning. Her website, Travelling King, offers tailored itineraries and expert guides for seamless trips. Sam's expertise in luxury travel, fast travel, and destination guides keeps her at the forefront of the travel community.

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Visiting Matera: Italy’s Most Unique And Beautiful City

• Last Updated On: December 24, 2023

I had previously visited Matera on a day trip during my road trip through Puglia but had only stayed a few hours. I’ve since come back to the Jerusalem of Italy and stayed a few nights more just because I loved it so much the first time. Matera is a one of a kind place in a country filled with one of a kind places. It’s unique to the point that other Italian cities and villages look almost routine.

Located in the province of Basilicata (bordering Puglia), this UNESCO World Heritage sight was also named The European city of Culture in 2019. I think Matera just might be Italy’s most beautiful and most fascinating city. That’s a bold statement to make when you have other incredible places in nearby Puglia , Tuscany , Sicily , Lake Como , Piedmont , and much more. The stone houses blend in perfectly with the rocky cliffs its built upon and the whole city looks like something out of a fairy tale novel.

History of Matera

To visit Matera without understanding the extensive history of the city is to not visit the city at all. Seriously though, the history of Matera is absolutely fascinating. It’s considered the third oldest continuously inhabited city in the world behind Aleppo and Jericho.

The city of Matera dates back to the early Bronze age in 2,500 BC during the time of the Egyptian empire . Settlements during these times were mostly found the in rock caves nearby. Over the centuries, every empire has had their influence on the city including the Greeks, Romans, Moors, Franks, Byzantines, Spanish and more.

The area around Matera is famous for its incredible deposits of natural limestone which the early inhabitants of the city used to carve out cave style dwellings. The houses you see in the city now are structures built on top of these rock caves over many generations. The saying in Matera goes that you’re probably walking on someone’s rooftop any direction you go.

Modern history of Matera

The modern history of Matera is probably its most fascinating (at least to me). After WW2, Matera was in an incredibly impoverished and terrible state as it was dubbed the “shame of Italy”. Throughout the latter of half of the 20th century, Matera was known for its crime, disease, general neglect of its infrastructure, and just a place that no one wanted to visit.

It wasn’t until the early 2000s when the movie “The Passion of the Christ” starring Mel Gibson was filmed in Matera. This brought international attention and fame to the city which kicked off an incredible renaissance of sorts for the city.

Yes, Mel Gibson essentially saved the city of Matera and is now one of their biggest heroes (no joke).

The city saw massive investment and restoration of its buildings, streets, and homes. Tourism became an increasingly large part of the economy and the city saw a major rebirth of sorts. Within Italy, it was still not a major draw as it is now.

In 2014, the European City of Culture committee was to meet for its 2019 selection (since these are always voted on 5 years in advance). The committee was made up of 5 Italians and 10 foreigners. The Italians all voted for other cities like Sienna and Ravenna to occupy the spot but the foreigners unanimously selected Matera. Once again, foreigners saved Matera.

In those 5 years, Matera saw major restoration and development and it has since blossomed into one of Italy’s major tourist draws. The latest James Bond film “No Time To Die” was filmed in Matera which cemented itself as a must visit city in Italy. Nowadays, Matera is beautifully preserved, clean, safe, and definitely somewhere you won’t want to miss.

Private Tour with Alessio Leardi

I took a private tour of Matera with two of my friends which I can highly recommend. There are no free walking tours of Matera unfortunately so this is the next best option in my opinion. Alessio was a very good guide and really understood the history of Matera old and new.

The best part is that he actually grew up in the Sasso of Matera. Yes, he grew up in the stone houses that you walk through and wonder to yourself, are these real residences? Alessio actually grew up in these houses in the 80s which was a time of severe poverty, crime, and incredible neglect. The streets of the old city of Matera was run down, dirty, crime ridden, and a place where drugs were free-flowing.

When you see the beautiful stone faced facade and perfectly manicured cobblestone streets, it’s hard to imagine a time that this city wasn’t so perfect and beautiful.

I really loved learning about his experiences living and growing up in Matera which is definitely something you wouldn’t know if you didn’t understand the history from a local!

What to do in Matera

The old town of Matera, or the Sasso/Sassi Di Matera is what you see in all the famous Instagram photos and it’s what you’re going to be spending all of your time in. Again, this beautiful city was considered a slum not more than 25 years ago and almost all of Matera lived in the modern parts of the city. Therefore, when we talk about Matera, we almost exclusively refer to the Sassi di Matera.

Matera is divided into two parts: Sasso Barisano and Sasso Coveoso. The Sasso Barisano is so named as such because it faces Bari, while the Sasso Caveoso looks south, towards Montescaglioso. There is one main road that goes through both Sasso’s and the road meanders around the outside of the two main areas with views of the valley.

Wander aimlessly through the streets of Matera

Matera is not a small city so you can expect to walk a half hour from one end of the old town to the other. There are numerous viewpoints, beautiful alleyways, stone stairways, churches, and of course rocks. The city vaguely gives me reminders of Berat, Albania but really there’s nothing similar to this town in Europe.

Simply walk through the small streets and discover something new at every turn. Matera has some incredible viewpoints and photo opportunities which will be surely surpassed by another viewpoint that you discover minutes later.

What to see in the Sasso Barisano

The Sasso Barisano is the larger and more central of the two  , as well as the one with the more urban aspect because the caves are not visible from the outside, but always hidden inside the houses. The perfect viewpoint of Sasso Barisano is from the top of the town in front of the Duomo, or the Cattedrale di Maria Santissima.

As with both Sasso, the main name of the game is just to walk around and immerse yourself in the beautiful streets of Matera. You can spend hours just getting lost in the cobblestone streets and admiring the views in front of you.

• Church of San Pietro Barisano  : the largest of the rupestrian churches of Matera, as well as one of the most evocative which is one of the must visit places of Barisano.
• Church of San Nicola dei Greci and Madonna delle Virtù  : large monumental complex consisting of a network of dozens of caves, which during the year of Matera European Capital of Culture hosted the  exhibition dedicated to Dalì  .
• Church of Sant’Agostino  : one of the most recent religious buildings in Matera, built around the sixteenth century. The exterior is characterized by an imposing late Baroque facade, while the interior retains frescoes, stone decorations and the access to the rock church of San Giuliano.  Not to be missed, the view on the Gravina.
• Sassi in Miniatura  : artisan workshop that houses a meticulous reproduction of Matera and its characteristic houses in a space of 12 square meters.  Admission is free  .
• Casa Grotta in Via Fiorentini  : by paying the symbolic amount of € 2.00 you can cross the threshold of one of the typical houses of Matera and discover how and where families lived with their animals.

Sasso Coveoso

Sasso Coveoso is also the more iconic of the two areas. The view from my hotel at Il Belvedere offers a perfect view of the this Sasso with the beautiful Duomo at the peak. The viewpoint at Belvedere di Piazza Giovannia Pascoli is probably one of the most iconic views of the city and perfect for picture opportunities.

Three of the most significant rupestrian churches of Matera are located in the Sasso Caveoso and can be visited with the purchase of a single ticket managed by the Oltre l’Arte Cooperative ; with  € 7.00 each  (prices updated to 2019) you can enter:

• Church of San Pietro Caveoso  : overlooking the square of the same name, it is the only church in the Sassi not to be excavated in the calcarenite – the material of marine origin from which the houses of Matera are made – and to overlook the Gravina.
• Church of Santa Maria de Idris  : one of the most beautiful, particular and fascinating in Matera. Dug into the side of Monte Errone or Monte Idris, on the outside it offers a privileged point of view on the Gravina, the Civita and the Cathedral; while inside there is a Madonna and Child from the 17th century which, if you look closely, hides frescoes from previous eras underneath.
• Church of Santa Lucia alle Malve  : built in the 8th century to house a Benedictine convent for women only, it develops in 3 naves and on the walls it preserves frescoes from the 12th century.

Murgia Park Viewpoint

One of the best things to do in Matera is to hike to the national park across the canyon. There is a small cable bridge that connects the hill that Matera is located on to the national park across the river.

The hike is an easy 1h round trip hike that will allow you to visit numerous caves from many thousand years ago until you finally reach the top of the hill and you’re greeted with incredible views of the Sasso di Coveoso.

I highly recommend doing this hike for sunset and watching the colors shine off the beautiful stone buildings of Matera. Alternatively, you can also drive from the city center to the Murgia viewpoint in 20 minutes.

Best time to visit Matera

Matera can be visited year round but the general tourist season runs from May until October. The weather is warm and enjoyable during the summer months but the crowds are also much greater. Expect loads of tourists from Italy and other European countries during these months. August is generally a month to avoid in Italy as everyone travels under the scorching sun.

Therefore, I think the best time to visit Matera are in September-October, as well as May-June. You can expect to pay cheaper prices during the shoulder months for accommodation.

You don’t want to visit too much in the off season as the town is too empty and so many of the restaurants will be closed. Matera’s main industry is tourism after all.

How to get to Matera

Matera is best visited by car especially on a road trip through Puglia . The closest airports to fly to are Bari which is 1 hour away by car.

Naples is also another feasible option being 2.5h away by car. Finally, Rome is a 6h drive from Matera which is perfect for those coming from far away and are doing a greater Italy road trip.

There isn’t much parking available inside the city center of Matera given that it is so old. You will have to find parking lots outside of the main area and walk to your accommodation. Some of the higher end hotels will offer shuttle service from their parking lot of choice to the hotel.

Bus to Matera

From the Puglian capital of Bari, there are numerous buses and even day trips that visit Matera. Companies like Flixbus, Marino Bus, and ItaBus make multiple daily trips between the two cities. It’s also an easy bus ride from Naples (2.5h) with Flixbus. There are no trains to Matera whatsoever.

From the Matera bus station, you can walk to the Sasso in 25 minutes or take a taxi for 10-15 Euros (As of 2022).

How to get around Matera

The best way to get around Matera is by foot. There is one main cobblestone road that runs through the old part of the city which allows for cars and scooters but the rest of the town is just stone roads and stairs which means walking is the only way to get around.

You won’t need to see any of the new part of Matera because there’s nothing special about it so you will spend all of your time in the Sassi di Matera.

Where to stay in Matera

There is no shortage of beautiful accommodation options in Matera. Over the years, Matera has become a sort of premium travel destination so you won’t find many hostels or budget style accommodations in the old city center. Conversely, because Matera was such a decrepit place only a few decades ago, there are not many locals living in the Sassi at all. It costs a lot of money to refurbish and renovate the old houses of the Sassi to a modern living standard. Therefore, the ones you do see are primarily hotels and Airbnbs.

Many of the hotels in Matera have at least some of the original cave as part of the hotel so you can get a feel of how people used to live (in a very luxurious way of course).

Stay at the Il Belvedere hotel

I stayed at the Il Belvedere hotel which was located on the outskirts of the Sasso di Coveoso. It had absolutely stunning and unobstructed views of the Sasso which I was able to enjoy from the patio every morning while eating breakfast.

I stayed in a single room with a single bed which was very affordable for a single traveler looking for a slightly upscale experience. They have larger rooms for couples and families all with remnants of the caves built in the past. Just look at these views!

Sextantio Hotel

For an ultra luxury experience, stay at the Sextantio hotel which is the ultimate in cave dwelling. The hotel is literally built into the caves and the rooms feel almost completely untouched from their original material. There is also a beautiful terrace that overlooks the valley and national park.

Where to eat in Matera

There are no shortage of amazing restaurants to eat traditional Italian food in the city. Make sure to try the local Orecchiette style pasta that is from nearby Puglia as well as the numerous meat dishes the region is famous for. Make sure to make reservations during the high season especially if you want outdoor seating!

• Osteria Al Casale
• Restaurante Le Bubbole
• Agriristories Ristorante Tipico Matera

Where to have drinks in Matera

No proper Italian trip is complete without engaging in the daily ritual of aperitivo, or pre dinner drinks. Aperol Spritz is the drink of choice when you’re in Italy so make sure to grab an amazing cocktail while enjoying views of the sunset.

There are endless bars, cafes, and restaurants where you can grab an aperitivo. For the most high end bar with the ultimate view, head over to the Quarry Lounge in Sasso di Coveoso. This terrace offers incredible views of the city and is perfect for taking pictures.

Area 8 is my favorite place to grab cocktails and drinks before and after drinks. They have a great vibe located on the cobblestone steps of the Sassi and there’s always a great vibe to the place. On weekend nights, they even have a DJ but the music is never overwhelming.

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Matera, Italy: 7 Tips You Need to Know Before Visiting

July 19, 2023

Matera, a hauntingly beautiful town in Italy

Famous for its  sassi  and stunning landscapes, Matera, located on the border of Basilicata and Puglia, is one of our favorite cities in Italy. It’s not only breathtaking, but fascinating: Its history goes back more than 30,000 years.

Did we mention that it’s much easier to than you think?

Here are the top 7 reasons you should add Matera to your the itinerary of your next Italy trip! And if you like UNESCO World Heritage sites (who doesn’t?) don’t forget to  i you want to read our blog on the other jaw-dropping UNESCO World Heritage sites in southern Italy .

Table of Contents

Facts about Matera, Italy

Matera’s famous sassi  aren’t what you think they are.

The sassi of Matera

Many people think that Matera’s cave dwellings are called “ sassi.”  They’re not. The  sassi (literally meaning “stones”) actually refer to the two  neighborhoods  of stone dwellings in the ancient town.

These dwellings, by the way, don’t always  look like caves from the outside. (The caves you see in some pictures, like this one to the right, are Palaeolithic caves located across the ravine from Matera’s ancient center).

Instead, these dwellings, carved into the rock, look like homes piled one on top of the other. (Their interiors, though, often feel cave-like). It’s an ingenious, and space-saving, design: Step onto one of the narrow lanes between houses, and you’re actually standing on the roof of the house below. It’s also smart when it comes to sharing water, since water would be gathered on the plateau above the town and then come down so that the entire community could share it.

Two main quarters sprung up in Matera that were built this way… and these  are the two  sassi. 

Aside from Petra, Jordan, Matera is the oldest continuously-inhabited settlement in history

The Palaeolithic caves of Matera

We call the oldest period in human history the “Palaeolithic period,” a time when woolly mammoths roamed the earth and the last Ice Age was just winding down. And guess what? This is when people first settled in Matera. (We’re talking at around about 15,000 B.C.).

What makes Matera different from other Palaeolithic settlements, though, is that those inhabitants, and their ancestors, never left. Instead, they dug in—quite literally. In the Iron and Bronze Ages, newly-equipped with metal tools, settlers dug underground caverns, cisterns, and tombs in the landscape’s soft volcanic stone (called  tufa ).   Famously, they also dug dwellings.

Those dwellings, and those people, remained throughout the later waves of rulers and empires, from Greeks to Romans to Byzantines. They (and their descendants) are still there today… even though some things are a little different.

Matera is where The Passion of the Christ  was filmed

Because of Matera’s unearthly, ancient beauty, Mel Gibson chose it as the setting for his 2004  The Passion of the Christ.  He’s not the first director to have set a Biblical film here: Pasolini’s  The Gospel According to St. Matthew  (1964), Beresford’s  King David  (1985), and Hardwicke’s  The Nativity Story  (2006) were all filmed here, as well.

In Matera, the living wasn’t always easy

Life in Matera’s stone dwellings: not always so romantic (photo courtesy of Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario)

Today, Matera seems incredibly romantic. But it wasn’t always this way. Even now, you can imagine the difficulties of living in the town’s ancient  sassi:  Homes, stores and churches are connected via narrow paths or stairs, so forget driving from your house to the grocery store. For those used to modern conveniences, living in a stone dwelling in Matera would be challenging!

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, poverty also was rife in Matera, as for so much of southern Italy. People lived in one-room stone homes—or, yes, caves—without heat or plumbing, often with donkeys or other animals sharing the same space. (For the curious, the  Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario  shows what living in the 1950s would have been like). Malaria was rife. Conditions were so bad that, in 1952, the government of Italy passed a law forcing Matera’s dwellers out of their old quarters and into new, modern buildings. This “new Matera” still exists, up the hill from the ancient  sassi,  and it’s where the vast majority of Matera’s residents live today.

But in 1993, the area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. And as Matera has gotten more popular, people have started moving back into the  sassi,  restoring the stone homes and even opening them as luxury hotels. If Matera’s 19th- and early-20th century inhabitants could see their town now, they’d be astonished!

Now’s the time to see Matera’s stone churches… but please, don’t touch the frescoes

The rupestrian church of Madonna di Idris in Matera

The churches of Matera, like the homes, are carved into stone. (These types of churches are called “rupestrian churches”). They date back to the Middle Ages; many have their interiors covered in vibrant frescoes.

A damaged, but still vibrant, fresco in one of Matera’s rupestrian churches

Fascinating and eerie, these churches are also, unfortunately, in not-so-hot shape. While some restorations have taken place, the frescoes remain extremely delicate. And something that’s making them worse? Damage caused by tourists—particularly from touching them. (Frescoes are especially sensitive to moisture, so the natural oils from your skin damage the artwork). In one church after another, you can see where the frescoes have all but completely disappeared in the parts where people have grabbed onto them, such as around doorframes.

So please, go see the frescoes now, before they disappear. Contribute to their future restoration with your admission ticket price. And never, ever touch them.

If you don’t like stairs, you might not like Matera

At least, you might not want to stay in its sassi.  To get around, even just from your hotel to a church, you  will  be climbing stairs. Lots of them. And forget about handicap accessibility.

So bring your walking shoes, and prepare to work up a sweat… especially if you’re visiting in the summer. (Because this is Italy’s south, it can be relatively hot even through the end of September).

You have been warned!

Coming to Matera? Expect to climb some stairs!

How to get to Matera

This is something that even seasoned Italy travelers don’t realize: Matera  is  connected by train to Italy’s other towns. However, even though no train to Matera comes up on the Trenitalia website, you don’t  need a car or bus to get there.

Confusion comes in because if you go to the Trenitalia website and plug in, say, “Rome” to “Matera,” no solutions come up. But that’s not because there isn’t a train station here. (There is!). It’s because it’s not on the  national  rail system.

Instead, if you want to travel by train, the easiest way is to first get to Bari (which is connected to the national system, so you can look up times and prices on the Trenitalia site ; it’s a 4-hour train ride from Rome to Bari). Then go to the regional train site, Ferrovie Appulo Lucane , putting in “Bari Centrale” as your starting point and “Matera Centrale” as your endpoint. A number of solutions pop up; the ride takes between 1 hour and 15 minutes and 1.5 hours, and the price is nominal (something like 2 euros). From the train station, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the  sassi of Matera.

The train station in Bari with trains to Matera

Note that the trains to Matera do  not  leave from the main part of the Bari Centrale station, but from a smaller station just outside the main one. When you walk outside onto the piazza outside the station, just look to your left, and you should see a building with the words “Ferrovie Appulo Lucane.” That’s where you want to go.

Because this is a smaller train service, on holidays and Sundays, it might not run. In that case, there’s a bus from Bari to Matera; just ask at the station.

There are also buses to Matera from Rome, Ancona, Florence, and Milan—but in general, we’ve found the train is the fastest, cheapest way to get there.

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12 BEST Matera Guided Tours (selected by an Italian)

By: Author Stefania Guglielmi

Posted on Last updated: February 17, 2024

Categories Europe , Italy

Read on to find the most epic Matera guided tours available, so you get to discover Italy’s oldest city with an expert in its history and archaeology.

Located in the Basilicata region in Southern Italy, Matera is the country’s oldest city and the third oldest city in the world (!) It’s also an absolute dream destination for history and archaeology buffs and a highly recommended place to visit when in Italy. 

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Matera dates back to the 3rd century BC, and it boasts magnificent remains of ancient life, including caves, primitive settlements, rock churches, and a charming landscape. 

I was born and raised in Bologna, in Northern Italy, but for some reason, I didn’t make it to Matera until last year. Big mistake – I was absolutely blown away by it! Matera quickly became one of my very favorite places in Italy , and I can’t wait to go back and spend another long weekend there. It’s such a unique place, unlike any other in the country.

The best way to explore the town is, in my opinion, with a Matera guided tour. While it’s a fascinating destination even if you’re aimlessly wandering around its streets, its history, importance, and the mesmerizing stories tied to Matera can only be discovered if you visit with an expert. 

For this reason, I’ve compiled the very best Matera guided tours to help you choose the one that best suits your interests and budget. Check them out!

I generally use Viator and Get Your Guide to book tours around the world. I especially recommend them for their great cancellation policy, which allows you to cancel most activities up to 24 hours in advance and get a full refund. 

Table of Contents

The BEST Matera Walking Tours

▶️ Discover the Ancient City – Matera Tour in English or Italian is a very comprehensive experience that allows you to get much more than a glimpse of this ancient city. Along with a small group of people, you’ll follow your English-speaking guide to the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, and explore the ancient dwellings and rock churches of Sassi. 

Enjoy stunning views of the valley and stroll along the narrow alleys as you learn about Matera’s millennia of history, a town that used to be called the Shame of Italy and ended up being recognized as an important World Heritage. 

This Matera walking tour includes : A guided tour around Matera. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ Sassi di Matera Guided Tour is a half-day experience that introduces you to Matera’s oldest districts: Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, which comprise Sassi di Matera. Inhabited continuously for over 7 thousand years, the Sassi feature astounding rock churches, cave houses, piazzas, and a striking Apulian-Romanesque Cathedral overlooking the city. 

Your expert guide will provide interesting insights about the city’s history and how it’s changed throughout the centuries, allowing you to truly delve into this fascinating location.  

This tour includes : A guide, and entry tickets to the caves. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ A Matera Private Walking Tour is ideal if you’re traveling with your partner, family, or a group of friends. You’ll benefit from your guide’s undivided attention and get to ask all your questions as you stroll around the historical center of Matera. 

The tour will take you to a spectacular cave-house that was inhabited until the 20th century, rupestrian churches, rocks, and the cathedral which sits atop one of the town’s highest points. 

This tour includes : A private guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

The Best Ape Tours in Matera (Tuk Tuk)

▶️ Ape Tour Matera – Panoramic Tour in Ape Calessino is an incredibly fun way of exploring this ancient city. An ape is essentially a tuk-tuk that will zip you through the steep lanes of Matera as you explore its historical districts without getting tired. 

You’ll visit the town’s main attractions accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, which enables you to understand the importance of the landmarks you’re passing by. You’ll stop to admire the views from a viewpoint and visit incredible caves that are thousands of years old.  

This Matera tuk tuk tour includes : A driver/guide, and transportation. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ Ape Tour Matera – Guided Tour in Ape Calessino is another fantastic tuk-tuk guided experience. You’ll explore three districts in the Sassi of Matera, hearing curiosities and interesting facts about the town’s history and stopping to enjoy panoramic views, and visiting a cave and rock church. 

The tuk tuk tour of Matera takes only an hour, so you’ll have the rest of the day free to wander at your leisure, seeing the town with new (and more informed) eyes. 

This tour includes : Transportation and a guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Murgia Park Rocky Curches Tours (Unmissable!)

▶️ Murgia Park Rocky Curches Tour takes you to an absolutely gorgeous attraction that you can’t miss when in Matera. The tour of the park grants you access to the striking rock churches where you can admire their centuries-old Byzantine frescoes, check out the scenic views from Golgota, and delight in the panorama of Matera as the sun sets. 

Be prepared to explore a millennium of history, tracing the steps of countless generations of citizens and being in awe of the fabulous sights. You’ll even get to see the spot where Mel Gibson filmed his movie The Passion of the Christ!

This tour includes : Transfers to the park, entry fees, and a guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ Join this Sassi and Murgia Tour by Electric Bike to cross through the neighborhoods of Matera effortlessly, relying on your e-bike to ascend the steep alleys. 

After exploring the districts of Sassi you’ll head to the Murgia Materana National Park, with stops at an ancient tuff quarry, a rock church, and the viewpoint of Murgia Timone, from which the views over Matera are unparalleled.  

This tour includes : E-bike and helmet rental, and a guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Matera Food Tours & Dining Experiences

▶️ Who can say no to a Food and Wine Tour between the Patriarchs Olives and the Oil Temples ? Better yet if it takes place in Italy’s most historical city, Matera. You’ll start the day having breakfast under a Patriarch olive tree and then head into the Materan rocky countryside known as Murgia . 

You’ll pass through ancient caves on your way to an old farmhouse, where you’ll be introduced to the traditional bread of Matera and get to prepare one of its most traditional dishes, the cialledda. Indulge in a meal completed with baked olives, salami, and Primitivo wine, and delight in the sounds of Matera’s traditional music and songs.   

This tour includes : Meal and a guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ Dining Experience at a Local’s Home ought to be one of the most authentic tours in Matera, Italy. You’ll join a local in their house to learn delicious Italian recipes that have been passed down through generations and relish a 4-course meal. 

Start by witnessing a cooking demonstration, an ideal excuse to ask all your culinary questions and write down some secret tips, and then join your host for a homemade lunch or dinner paired with wine and coffee, and surely interesting conversation. 

This tour includes : A 4-course lunch or dinner with drinks at a local’s home. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ Join a Six Course Truffle Tasting Tour for the ultimate foodie experience. You’ll head to the center of Matera and visit a shop that specializes in Basilicata’s star product: the truffle. You’ll get to learn everything about it and sample traditional dishes that include this precious ingredient. 

A six-course meal consisting of truffle sauces with bread, cheese, and other dairy products, truffle salami, and panna cotta with truffle honey should most definitely make up for lunch, so be sure to have an empty stomach before starting the activity! It’s arguably one of the most interesting (and delicious!) Matera tours!

This tour includes : Tastings of six truffle specialties, and a truffle expert to guide the experience. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Night Walking Tour of Matera

A Walking Tour of Matera at Sunset allows you to see the city during the day and witness how it gets transformed as the sun sets. You’ll visit centuries-old cave dwellings, walk through the Sassi districts, and enjoy the views at Murgia National Park as you learn about the history of Matera from your guide. 

You’ll finish the tour by visiting a Rupestrian church that overlooks the city, seeing as it lights up for the evening.     

This tour includes : A tour guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

James Bond 007 Guided Tour in Matera

Ready to live a cinematic experience in Matera? Book the James Bond 007 Guided Tour to follow the steps of the world’s most famous secret agent. You’ll meet a Matera tour guide and follow them around town as they show you the spots where several of the James Bond movies were shot. 

You’ll hear anecdotes and interesting information about the shooting in Matera, and get to snap pictures in the places where Bond, James Bond carried out many of his heroic actions. 

This Matera James Bond tour includes : A tour guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Matera Guided Tours FAQ

As the oldest city in Italy, and holding incredible information about the history and customs of ancient civilizations, Matera is 100% worth visiting in my opinion. 

Yes, you can certainly walk around Matera, although you have to take into consideration that its narrow lanes and alleys are sometimes quite steep. If you have mobility issues, walking in town might be difficult.

The most special aspect of Matera is its incredible history and architecture: it’s the country’s oldest city after all, and it’s been continuously inhabited for thousands of years! 

Stefania Guglielmi is the founder of Every Steph. Originally from Bologna, Italy, she's been traveling full-time since 2016 and has visited over 50 countries across 6 continents. She believes sustainable travel and luxury travel can go hand in hand and has been advocating for responsible tourism since 2014. Stefania's advice and travel experiences have been featured in important publications such as Business Insider, Refinery29, and Yahoo Money.

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THE CITY OF SASSI IS WAITING FOR YOU!

Visiting Matera means discovering a unique place in the world: art, nature, history and hospitality will accompany you during your stay in the City of Stones.

COME TO MATERA

We are waiting for you to discover our city with one of our tours

Since 2002, Ferula Viaggi organizes different and original guided tours: the Sassi of Matera, the park of the Murgia Materana and the rock churches; the historical, artistic, cultural and natural heritage awaits you to discover a place that sums up the whole history of humanity.

In addition to classical guided tours, gastronomic experiences will be an opportunity to discover the ancient traditions of local cuisine and appreciate the authentic welcoming mood of the people of Matera.

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WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Aderiamo al protocollo #SAFETRAVELS

Ferula Viaggi aderisce al protocollo #SAFETRAVELS del World Travel & Tourism Council per garantire e preservare la sicurezza dei propri clienti in merito al COVID-19.

Contact us to get more info about our tour in Matera or send us an e-mail to [email protected]