Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    • Neighborhoods & highlights
    • Walking tours
    • Eat & drink
    • Food culture
    • Culture
    • Nightlife
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Plan trip
    • Nearby
    Matera

    Italy

    Matera

    City

    Matera in Basilicata is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Italy
    7. Basilicata
    9. Matera
    Matera in Basilicata is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Its old town, the Sassi, comprises cave dwellings, rock churches, and houses carved over centuries into the tufa stone on the edge of a deep gorge. In the 1950s, the Sassi were evacuated due to poverty and poor hygiene; since 1993, they have been a UNESCO World Heritage site and are now re-inhabited, with hotels, restaurants, and museums in the caves. In 2019, Matera was a European Capital of Culture. Opposite the city, across the Gravina gorge, lies the Murgia Park, featuring more cave churches and the most famous view of the Sassi. The alleys and stairs are steep; comfortable shoes are necessary.

    Sights in Matera

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Sassi di Matera
    Attraction

    1Sassi di Matera

    The two cave districts Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso descend from below the Civita down the slope to the Gravina Gorge. Stairs, alleyways, and homes, cisterns, and churches dug into the tuff form a dense network. The paths are steep and partly uneven.
    Open in Google Maps
    Cattedrale di Matera
    Church

    2Cattedrale di Matera

    Apulian-Romanesque Cathedral from the 13th century on the highest spur of the Civita between the two Sassi. The tall bell tower is visible from afar; inside its three-aisled interior stands a stone nativity scene from 1534.
    Open in Google Maps
    Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario
    Museum

    3Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario

    Furnished cave dwelling in Sasso Caveoso, inhabited until 1957, showing how families lived here: living area, stable, hearth, and bed under a vault, with period furniture and tools.
    Open in Google Maps
    Parco della Murgia Materana
    Park

    4Parco della Murgia Materana

    Karst landscape on the other side of the Gravina Gorge with numerous rock-hewn churches, some with frescoes. From Belvedere Murgia Timone, the famous view of the Sassi awaits. On foot, trail 406 leads from Porta Pistola in Sasso Caveoso down into the gorge, across an approximately 70-meter-long suspension bridge and steeply up to the Jazzo Gattini visitor center, about 6 kilometers and 2 hours.
    Open in Google Maps
    Palombaro Lungo
    Attraction

    5Palombaro Lungo

    Large, rock-cut cistern beneath Piazza Vittorio Veneto, built in the 19th century as a water reservoir. Accessible via guided tour, the route descends about 17 meters.
    Open in Google Maps
    Santa Maria de Idris
    Church

    6Santa Maria de Idris

    Felsenkirche on the limestone rock Monterrone above the Sasso Caveoso. A passage connects it with the Crypt San Giovanni in Monterrone, where frescoes are preserved.
    Open in Google Maps

    City walks in Matera

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Matera: A Journey Through Time in the Sassi

    Discover Matera's unique cave dwellings and charming lanes on this roughly 2-hour walk. Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of the UNESCO World Heritage city and enjoy breathtaking views of the rocky landscape.

    ~2 Std. 10 Min.
    Open in Google Maps
    Stops (7)

    Restaurants & Cafés

    1

    Osteria Al Casale

    Osteria on Via Spine Bianche, just outside the Sassi, with regional Basilicata cuisine.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Ristorante Francesca

    Restaurant on Via Bruno Buozzi in Sasso Caveoso, offering Lucanian dishes.
    Show on Google Maps
    3

    Margò Ristorante e Ravioleria

    Restaurant on Via Lucana in the upper town, with a focus on homemade ravioli and pasta.
    Show on Google Maps
    4

    Baccanti

    Upscale restaurant in a cave in Sasso Caveoso with a stone terrace. The menu features pasta, meat and fish prepared with refinement.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food and Drinks

    Matera's cuisine is simple and rustic, with bread, legumes and vegetables.

    Pane di Matera

    Large durum semolina bread from Basilicata, with characteristic shape and PGI.

    Crapiata

    Legume and grain stew, traditionally cooked August 1st at the grain harvest's end.

    Cialledda

    Salad with day-old bread, tomatoes, onions, and olive oil, also a warm soup in winter.

    Peperoni cruschi

    Crispy fried dried peppers, often with pasta or stockfish.

    Orecchiette and Cavatelli

    Durum wheat pasta with tomato sauce, vegetables, or ragout.

    Culture

    The caves on the edge of the Gravina Gorge have been inhabited since prehistoric times. In the Middle Ages, numerous rock churches were built, some with frescoes.After the Second World War, due to poverty and poor hygienic conditions, the Sassi were considered "the shame of Italy". A 1952 law relocated residents to new neighborhoods. Later, the Sassi were renovated; in 1993 they were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 2019 Matera was European Capital of Culture.The city served as the filming location for many films, including Pasolini's "Il Vangelo secondo Matteo" (1964). On July 2nd, Matera celebrates the Festa della Bruna in honor of its patron saint, culminating in the destruction of a papier-mâché float.

    Nightlife

    1

    Area 8

    Bar and venue on Via Casalnuovo, on the edge of Sasso Caveoso, offering cocktails, small plates and occasional concerts.
    Show on Google Maps

    Traveling

    The nearest airport is Bari, about 60 kilometers away. From there, direct buses run to Matera; alternatively, take a bus to Bari Centrale station and then the private railway Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, sometimes with a change in Altamura. Matera is not yet connected to the national rail network; the new line from Ferrandina is under construction and, according to FS, is expected to open in 2028.In the Sassi, you get around on foot; paths are steep and slippery when wet. The Sassi are in a restricted traffic zone (ZTL); parking is available in the upper town, such as Via Lanera. A bus line serves the Sassi. For Murgia Park and local excursions, a car is practical; upon arrival with luggage at Sassi accommodation, a shuttle or luggage transport often helps.

    Accommodations in Matera

    Find perfect stay in Matera

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Campgrounds in Matera

    Find perfect campground in Matera

    Search via Google Maps
    Campgrounds nearby (15km)
    Camping.info
    Find Campgrounds
    Park4Night
    RV Parks & Camping

    Plan your trip to Matera

    Save places, build a route and plan your city trip, all in one place.

    1. 1
      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
      1234

      Round trip

      12 days · 4 stops

      Saved

      Pick a route

      Pick a ready-made one or save places and plan your own.

      Open bookmarks
    2. 2

      Trip to Matera

      Live
      • 1Sassi di Matera3 days
      • 2Cattedrale di Matera4 days
      • 3Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario5 days
      Budget

      Plan your trip

      The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.

      Start trip planning
    3. 3
      9:41 No signal
      Matera
      Available offline

      Use it on the road

      Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.

    Nearby

    Basilicata

    Basilicata

    Basilicata, nestled between Campania, Apulia, and Calabria, is Italy's second least populated region after the Aosta Valley. It has two short coastlines: on the Tyrrhenian Sea near Maratea and on the Ionian Sea near Metaponto. Mountains and hills make up most of its area.MateraKnown for the Sassi of Matera, cave districts with rock churches, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993.LandscapeThe south features Pollino National Park, bordering Calabria; the center has the Piccole Dolomiti Lucane rocks, with the villages Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa. Craco is an abandoned ghost town.AntiquityOn the Ionian coast, Greeks founded colonies like Metapontion; remains are in Metaponto and Policoro.
    Apulien

    Apulien

    Puglia is the heel of Italy's boot and, with approximately 865 kilometers, has the longest coastline of all mainland regions of Italy. Between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas lie the Trulli villages of Valle d'Itria, the Baroque city of Lecce, Romanesque cathedrals by the sea, and vast olive groves.
    Alberobello

    Alberobello

    Alberobello is located in the Valle d'Itria in the Metropolitan City of Bari and is known for its Trulli, houses built of roughly hewn limestone using dry-stone techniques without mortar, with conical roofs made of stone slabs. Since 1996, they have been a UNESCO World Heritage site.The two Trulli districts are Rione Monti and Aia Piccola.
    Bari

    Bari

    Bari is the capital of Apulia and has approximately 315,000 inhabitants. In the winding old town, Bari Vecchia, stand the Basilica San Nicola with the relics of Saint Nicholas and the San Sabino Cathedral; on Via dell'Arco Basso, women shape orecchiette pasta outside their doorways.
    Polignano a Mare

    Polignano a Mare

    Polignano a Mare lies about 33 kilometers south of Bari on the Adriatic coast. The oldest part of its old town sits on a rocky spur, dropping steeply to the sea; beneath, along the coast, lie numerous sea caves.In the town's center, the Lama Monachile cove cuts into the coast, spanned by the early 19th-century Bourbon Bridge; beneath it ran the ancient Via Traiana. Polignano is the birthplace of singer Domenico Modugno, commemorated by a statue on the waterfront.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI