Matera Travel Guide

Cave dwellings and rock-cut churches in pale tufa limestone sit on the edge of the Gravina canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993.

First Visit Sights Book Ahead By Mood Where To Stay Map

One Day In Matera: Sassi, Churches And Sunset

A one-day route can run from the Sassi in the morning to a cave house at midday, rock churches in the afternoon, and the Murgia Timone viewpoint across the gorge in the evening.

One day in Matera
1Morning
A narrow stone lane between pale limestone houses in Sasso Barisano, empty in morning light

Sassi Di Matera

The Sassi di Matera form a UNESCO property of 1,016 ha with more than a thousand dwellings plus many shops and workshops. The two districts are Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, and Criterion (iii) describes the site as a rock-cut settlement with continuity over more than two millennia.

UNESCO
2Midday
Interior of a furnished cave house with a rough rock ceiling and simple wooden furniture

Casa Grotta Di Vico Solitario

Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario is a furnished cave house, with a full ticket at €8 and free entry to age 10. The same ticket covers the Neviera, the natural cave and the rock church of Sant'Agostino al Casalnuovo.

€8
3Afternoon
Weathered fresco on the wall of a small rock-cut church, lit by a narrow doorway

Rupestrian Churches

Three rupestrian churches are run by Oltre l'Arte: Santa Lucia alle Malve, Madonna de Idris and San Pietro Barisano. Tickets cost €4.50 for one church, €8 for two and €10 for three.

From €4.50
4Evening
View across the Gravina canyon from the Murgia plateau toward the lit Sassi at dusk

Belvedere Murgia Timone

Belvedere Murgia Timone sits on the Murgia plateau opposite the Sassi, across the Gravina canyon, and gives the view back at the Sassi. Visitor access toward Murgia Timone is controlled from the Jazzo Gattini info point.

Small group on a guided walk down a stone staircase in the Sassi past cave houses
Sassi Walk with Cave House 4.68 from 7,885 reviews · from $28
Check availability

Things To Do In Matera: The Short List

Eight places anchor a first visit to Matera, with admission noted where it is published.

All Matera attractions
Cave dwellings and stone houses of Sasso Caveoso climbing a steep slope above the gorge UNESCO Sassi Di MateraThe Sassi di Matera are two cave districts listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Doorway of a cave house opening onto a stone courtyard in the Sassi €8 Casa GrottaA furnished cave house is shown alongside a neviera, a natural cave and a rock church. Piazza Vittorio Veneto, a wide paved square with historic facades, seen on a bright day Palombaro LungoPalombaro Lungo is a large cistern under Piazza Vittorio Veneto, with an official site. Romanesque cathedral tower and facade above the rooftops of the old town €4 With MATA Matera CathedralThe cathedral and MATA diocesan museum share one €4 ticket, daily 09:00 to 19:00. Rock-hewn church entrance cut into a pale cliff face above a stone path From €4.50 Rupestrian ChurchesThree cave churches are run by Oltre l'Arte, from €4.50 for one. Cave mouth in a limestone rock face on a rural hillside in the Murgia countryside Book Ahead Crypt Of The Original SinThe Crypt of the Original Sin, about 15 minutes from Matera by car, requires booking. Whitewashed stone courtyard entrance in the Sasso Barisano on a quiet street €6.50 Casa NohaCasa Noha, run by heritage trust FAI, screens a film explaining Matera, adults €6.50. Dry limestone plateau of the Murgia with rock outcrops and low scrub, facing the Sassi UNESCO Murgia ParkParco della Murgia Materana, across the gorge from the Sassi, has rupestrian churches.

Matera Neighbourhoods At A Glance

Sasso Barisano is the livelier half of the Sassi, and Sasso Caveoso is the older, rougher cave district. Civita is the ridge between them, while the Piano is the Baroque upper town.

Sasso Barisano · Sasso Caveoso · Civita · The Piano

25,982 traveller reviewsacross 39 checked tours
From $22cheapest paid tour today
Prices checkedagainst the booking page, refreshed monthly

Matera Tours Worth Booking

Thirty-nine tours and tickets cover Matera and its day trips, and three questions narrow them to a shortlist.

1. What kind of experience are you after?
2. What would you spend per person?
3. How much time do you have?

A starting shortlist of well-reviewed tours, not the full list. Answer below to rebuild it around your plans.

  1. Sassi Walk with Cave House 2 hours from $28 ★ 4.68 7,885 Check availability
  2. Alberobello and Matera by Private Bus 10 hours from $44 ★ 4.69 5,694 Check availability
  3. English Group City Walk 2 to 3 hours from $34 ★ 4.9 1,940 Check availability
  4. Casa Grotta and Rock Church Entry 2 hours from $39 ★ 4.7 1,546 Check availability
  5. Open-Top Eco-Bus Ride 1.5 hours from $22 ★ 4.56 1,241 Check availability
  6. Alberobello Trulli Walk, 2 Hours 2 hours from $50 ★ 4.51 833 Check availability
  7. Historic Center and Sassi Walk 2 hours from $23 ★ 4.8 562 Check availability
  8. Two-Town Day Tour with Tour Leader 10 hours from $39 ★ 4.65 524 Check availability
  9. Sassi Walk, Premium Guides 2 hours from $34 ★ 4.9 509 Check availability
  10. Private Sassi Tour, 3 Hours 3 hours from $331 ★ 4.9 465 Check availability
  11. Sassi History and Culture Walk 2 hours from $34 ★ 4.83 425 Check availability
  12. Alberobello Walk with a Local 2 hours from $43 ★ 4.82 400 Check availability
  13. 45-Minute Tuk-Tuk Panorama 45 minutes from $39 ★ 4.2 392 Check availability
  14. Tour Leader on Board 10 hours from $42 ★ 4.6 363 Check availability
  15. Full Sassi Tour with Tasting 3 hours from $56 ★ 4.56 341 Check availability
  16. Overnight Stay, Meal and Tour 2 days from $168 ★ 4.8 340 Check availability
  17. Open Bus with House-Cave Entry 1 hour 30 minutes from $23 ★ 4.9 339 Check availability
  18. Sunset Belvedere Tour, Transfer Included 2.5 hours from $47 ★ 4.71 244 Check availability
  19. Ape Calessino Ride, 40 Minutes 40 minutes from $38 ★ 4.9 195 Check availability
  20. Ape Calessino Standard Tour 40 to 45 minutes from $46 ★ 4.5 189 Check availability
  21. City Center Cave Churches Walk 2 hours from $39 ★ 4.74 186 Check availability
  22. Bari Bus Day Trip, 6 Hours 6 hours from $37 ★ 4.22 174 Check availability
  23. Ape Calessino Tour, 50 Minutes 50 minutes from $40 ★ 4.8 162 Check availability
  24. Tuk-Tuk History and Legends 1 hour 10 minutes from $61 ★ 4.9 151 Check availability
  25. E-Bike Tour, Focaccia and Wine 3 hours from $105 ★ 4.86 119 Check availability
  26. Quad Ride, 1 Hour 30 Minutes 1 hour 30 minutes from $91 ★ 5 117 Check availability
  27. Private Old Town and Sassi 2 hours from $343 ★ 4.9 109 Check availability
  28. James Bond 007 Walk 2 hours from $73 ★ 4.47 103 Check availability
  29. Farmhouse Pasta Cooking Class 4 hours from $160 ★ 5 96 Check availability
  30. Private Tour with Official Guide 3 hours from $228 ★ 5 68 Check availability
  31. Small-Group Balloon Flight 1 to 4 hours from $320 ★ 4.8 61 Check availability
  32. Alberobello with Private Transfer 5 hours from $56 ★ 4.4 59 Check availability
  33. Murgia Park Sunset Walk 2 hours 30 minutes from $29 ★ 4.7 43 Check availability
  34. Sassi, Murgia and Tibetan Bridge 2 hours 30 minutes from $114 ★ 4.8 32 Check availability
  35. Olive Oil Temples Food Tour 2 to 3 hours from $48 ★ 4.7 23 Check availability
  36. Small-Group Wine Tasting, 1 Hour 1 hour from $72 ★ 4.72 20 Check availability
  37. Pasta Class in a Wine Cellar 3 hours from $123 ★ 4.7 19 Check availability
  38. Craco Ghost Town, Amaro Lucano 4 hours from $240 ★ 4 7 Check availability
  39. Castelmezzano to Pietrapertosa Hike 4 hours from $331 ★ 5 6 Check availability

Matera With Kids

Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario is free to age 10 and €3 for ages 11 to 18, and the three Oltre l'Arte churches are free to age 10 with a parent.

Open paved square at the edge of the Sassi with space to walk, no people in focusMatera With KidsA guide to a Matera day pitched at small legs. Low stone room of a cave house with a simple bed and rough wallsCasa GrottaEntry is free to age 10 and €3 for ages 11 to 18. Pedestrian square with a fountain-free open stretch of paving and historic buildings around itPiazza Vittorio VenetoCar free 24 hours a day, Piazza Vittorio Veneto is the front door of the Sassi.
Three-wheeled Ape calessino parked on a stone street at the edge of the SassiPanoramic RideApe Calessino Ride, 40 Minutes4.9 from 195 reviews · from $38Check availability

Matera At Night

This guide covers where the lights are best after dark, bars and aperitivo, and a sunset belvedere tour on the Murgia plateau.

Stone houses of the Sassi lit by warm street lamps against a deep blue skyMatera After DarkWhere the lights are best in Matera at night. Outdoor tables and glasses on a paved square at dusk with historic buildings behindBars And AperitivoA guide to bars and aperitivo after a day of sightseeing. Terrace viewpoint over the Sassi and the gorge at blue hourPhotography SpotsThis guide covers the spots where the postcard shots of the Sassi are taken.
Sun low over the Murgia plateau with the Sassi in silhouette across the canyonSunset TourSunset Belvedere Tour, Transfer Included4.71 from 244 reviews · from $47Check availability

Matera In Winter

Winter in Matera brings a mean December high of 11.2 °C and a low of 3.7 °C (ERA5 reanalysis 1991 to 2020). A living nativity (Presepe Vivente) runs through the Sasso Caveoso on weekends in December and early January.

Grey winter sky over the Sassi, damp stone and bare lanes, no people in focusMatera In WinterThis guide covers Matera in winter. Church square in the Sasso Caveoso with simple candle-style lighting at dusk, no facesLiving NativityPresepe Vivente nei Sassi: 20 scenes, Sasso Caveoso, €12, free under 10. Overcast morning over the gorge and the Sasso Caveoso rooftopsMatera WeatherDecember averages 11.2 °C highs and 3.7 °C lows, with rainfall varying by month.
Hands shaping fresh pasta on a floured wooden table in a rustic farmhouse kitchenIndoor ClassFarmhouse Pasta Cooking Class5 from 96 reviews · from $160Check availability
Wide pedestrian square with historic facades and open paving, few people, no signage visible Stone-railed viewpoint terrace looking over the rooftops and gorge of Matera

Free Things To Do In Matera

Piazza Vittorio Veneto and Via Ridola are pedestrian areas closed to vehicles all day, and the viewpoints include Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio and Belvedere di Piazza Pascoli. Children enter free up to age 10 at Casa Grotta and the Oltre l'Arte churches.

Sassi Streets Piazza Vittorio Veneto Viewpoints Self Guided Walking Route Free Things Guide

What To Eat In Matera

Pane di Matera is a protected bread, registered as a PGI in 2008. The guides cover peperoni cruschi, a crisp red pepper of Basilicata, as well as Matera DOC wine, Aglianico, and restaurants set inside caves.

What to eat in Matera
A round crusty loaf of bread on a wooden counter, flour dusting, no packaging or labels Pane Di Matera Pane di Matera has held PGI (IGP) status since 2008. Crisp dried red peppers piled in a shallow bowl on a rustic table Peperoni Cruschi Peperoni cruschi are a crisp red pepper of Basilicata. Two glasses of red wine on a stone ledge with the Sassi blurred behind Matera Wine A guide to Matera DOC and Aglianico wine and where to taste them.

Matera On The Map

Loading the map. Every place is also listed below.

Click the map to zoom with the scroll wheel. Numbers match the list.

  1. Sassi di Materathe Sassi, where most first days start
  2. Sasso BarisanoNeighbourhood · 100 m from Sassi Di Matera
  3. Sasso CaveosoNeighbourhood · 430 m from Sassi Di Matera
  4. CivitaNeighbourhood · 150 m from Sassi Di Matera
  5. Il PianoNeighbourhood · 280 m from Sassi Di Matera
  6. Piazza Vittorio VenetoLandmark · 340 m from Sassi Di Matera
  7. Palombaro LungoLandmark · 330 m from Sassi Di Matera
  8. Matera CathedralLandmark · 100 m from Sassi Di Matera
  9. Santa Maria de IdrisLandmark · 390 m from Sassi Di Matera
  10. Santa Lucia alle MalveLandmark · 500 m from Sassi Di Matera
  11. San Pietro BarisanoLandmark · 180 m from Sassi Di Matera
  12. San Pietro CaveosoLandmark · 380 m from Sassi Di Matera
  13. Madonna delle Virtu and San Nicola dei GreciLandmark · 140 m from Sassi Di Matera
  14. San Giovanni BattistaLandmark · 210 m from Sassi Di Matera
  15. San Francesco d'AssisiLandmark · 230 m from Sassi Di Matera
  16. Chiesa del PurgatorioLandmark · 360 m from Sassi Di Matera
  17. Casa Grotta di Vico SolitarioMuseum · 420 m from Sassi Di Matera
  18. Casa NohaMuseum · 190 m from Sassi Di Matera
  19. MUSMAMuseum · 210 m from Sassi Di Matera
  20. Palazzo LanfranchiMuseum · 500 m from Sassi Di Matera
  21. Museo RidolaMuseum · 400 m from Sassi Di Matera
  22. Casa CavaMuseum · 160 m from Sassi Di Matera
  23. Castello TramontanoLandmark · 530 m from Sassi Di Matera
  24. Belvedere Luigi GuerricchioLandmark · 310 m from Sassi Di Matera
  25. Belvedere di Piazza PascoliLandmark · 470 m from Sassi Di Matera
  26. Via RidolaNeighbourhood · 410 m from Sassi Di Matera
  27. Via FiorentiniNeighbourhood · 150 m from Sassi Di Matera
  28. Via Bruno BuozziNeighbourhood · 400 m from Sassi Di Matera
  29. Via Madonna delle VirtuNeighbourhood · 160 m from Sassi Di Matera
  30. Piazza del SedileLandmark · 210 m from Sassi Di Matera
  31. Convento di Sant'AgostinoLandmark · 330 m from Sassi Di Matera
  32. Matera Centrale StationTransport · 770 m from Sassi Di Matera
  33. Matera Sud StationTransport · 930 m from Sassi Di Matera
  34. Belvedere Murgia TimonePark · 730 m from Sassi Di Matera
  35. Tibetan Bridge over the GravinaPark · 410 m from Sassi Di Matera
  36. Parco della Murgia MateranaPark · 1.7 km from Sassi Di Matera
  37. Parco dei Quattro EvangelistiPark · 2.9 km from Sassi Di Matera

Day Trips From Matera: Alberobello, Altamura, Craco

Altamura is 20 km and about 20 minutes by car, Gravina in Puglia is 30 km, Craco is 57 km or about 58 minutes, Alberobello is 68 km or about 1 h 25, and Polignano a Mare is 100 km or about 1 h 30. These times are free-flow driving times from Matera Centrale station.

Rows of whitewashed conical-roofed trulli houses on a sunlit hillside streetTrulli

Alberobello

Alberobello, 68 km away, is the town of trulli houses.

10-hour tour · 4.69 from 5,694 reviews · from $44Check availability
Pale stone cathedral facade and narrow lanes of the old town of AltamuraOld Town

Altamura

Altamura, 20 km away, is known for its bread, its cathedral and its old town.

Read the guidePlan the Altamura day
Abandoned stone buildings clustered on a bare hilltop under a wide skyGhost Town

Craco

Craco is an abandoned hill town 57 km away, with a guide to visiting the ghost town.

Read the guidePlan the Craco day
Stone arched bridge crossing a deep limestone ravine beside old housesCanyon

Gravina In Puglia

Gravina in Puglia, 30 km away, has a bridge and an old quarter covered in this guide.

Read the guidePlan the Gravina day
White cliffs above a small pebble cove on the Adriatic coast with turquoise waterCoast

Polignano A Mare

Polignano a Mare is 100 km away on the Adriatic, and the coast can be done in a day.

Read the guidePlan the Polignano day

All day trips

Matera Right Now: Weather And Golden Hour

At the last check, on 10 October, the forecast for Matera was 17°C with a few light showers. Sunset was at 18:21, so the Sassi viewpoints glowed best from about 17:21.

Forecast, Sassi
17°C
a few light showers, cloud 85%
Sunrise and sunset
06:59 / 18:21
10 October, Matera time
Golden hour
from 17:21
about an hour before sunset

Weather data from MET Norway (Locationforecast 2.0 and Sunrise 3.0, Norwegian Meteorological Institute), under NLOD 2.0 / CC BY 4.0. A forecast-model value for the grid point at the Sassi, not a thermometer reading.

Latest rail notice, as last published (2026-10-09): Modifiche programma ferroviario dal 12.10.2026, Ferrovie Appulo Lucane. Worth a look before a rail trip.

When To Visit Matera, Month By Month

Tap a month. Temperatures and rain are ERA5 reanalysis for 1991 to 2020 for the Matera grid cell, and arrivals are 2025 accommodation counts from APT Basilicata.

In 2025, Matera's hotels and rentals logged 61,630 arrivals in September against 15,239 in February: roughly 4x busier at the peak than the winter low. The peak was September, not August, and 74.5% of that month's arrivals came from abroad.

Jan: 5.9℃Feb: 6.3℃Mar: 8.9℃Apr: 12.1℃May: 17.1℃Jun: 22.2℃Jul: 25℃Aug: 25℃Sep: 20.1℃Oct: 15.8℃Nov: 11.1℃Dec: 7.1℃ 04080 0°15°30° JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec Rain mm Temp ℃
  • Monthly rainfall (mm)
  • Mean temperature (°C)
ERA5 reanalysis for the Matera grid cell, 1991-2020 averages (a model reconstruction, not a station record): July is warmest at 25°C average, January coldest at 5.9°C, November wettest at 67.1 mm and July driest at 21.2 mm, 562.5 mm across the year.
MonthMean tempMean highMean lowRainfallGuest arrivals, 2025
January5.9°C10.3°C2.2°C51.4 mm18,402
February6.3°C11.1°C2.2°C54.9 mm15,239
March8.9°C14.1°C4.4°C59.2 mm23,629
April12.1°C17.4°C7.1°C56.5 mm45,195
May17.1°C22.7°C11.5°C41.7 mm54,101
June22.2°C28.2°C16°C35.1 mm50,186
July25°C31.2°C18.6°C21.2 mm43,966
August25°C31.3°C18.9°C21.7 mm60,257
September20.1°C25.7°C15.2°C44.8 mm61,630
October15.8°C20.8°C11.6°C51.7 mm52,538
November11.1°C15.5°C7.5°C67.1 mm23,555
December7.1°C11.2°C3.7°C57.2 mm30,385

Data: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (ERA5 reanalysis, Copernicus), grid cell for Matera, 1991-2020 means, APT Basilicata, SIST guest movement, Città di Matera, APT Basilicata.

Where To Stay In Matera

Choosing a district comes first: Sasso Barisano, Sasso Caveoso with Civita, or the Piano, the upper town. Each district below lists real stays, and a tourist tax is collected by the accommodation, with the amount confirmed at booking.

Full where-to-stay guide
Terraced stone houses and lanes of Sasso Barisano in soft afternoon light

Sasso Barisano

Best For Lively Evenings

Sasso Barisano is the livelier half of the Sassi, and six stays are listed here.

Sasso Barisano Area Guide
Rough cave dwellings of Sasso Caveoso above the gorge, church dome in the distance

Sasso Caveoso And Civita

Best For The Cave Setting

Sasso Caveoso with Civita is the older, rougher cave district and the ridge between the two Sassi, with three stays listed.

Sasso Caveoso Area Guide
Baroque palace facades and a tree-lined pedestrian street in the upper town

The Piano

Best For The Upper Town

The Piano is the Baroque upper town of Matera, with two stays listed.

Piano Area Guide

Getting To Matera From Bari Airport

Bari Airport is 64 km from Matera, about 1 hour by road in free-flow conditions. No Trenitalia station reaches the city, so the rail link is FAL (Ferrovie Appulo Lucane) from Bari Centrale with a change at Altamura, taking about 1 h 45 to 2 h. On Sundays and public holidays FAL runs no trains, only replacement buses.

Bari airport to Matera · Bari to Matera · Matera train station · How to get to Matera

What Is Matera Famous For?

1

UNESCO Since 1993

UNESCO inscribed the Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera in 1993 as site 670, under criteria (iii), (iv) and (v).

2

The Sassi

The Sassi consist of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, cave dwellings and stone houses cut into pale tufa limestone, and the UNESCO property covers 1,016 ha.

3

Rock Churches

The rupestrian churches are cut into rock, and the park that contains them covers about 8,000 ha by its own count and has 923 plant species.

4

Film Locations

Films shot in Matera include The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964), The Passion of the Christ (2004), Wonder Woman (2017), and No Time to Die (2021).

5

Capital Of Culture

Matera held the title of European Capital of Culture in 2019.

6

Festa Della Bruna

The Festa della Bruna takes place every 2 July, and the official history dates the celebrations to 1389.

Is Matera, Italy Worth Visiting?

Matera, in Basilicata in southern Italy, is an inland cave city on the edge of the Gravina canyon, and the honest answer to whether it is worth visiting is yes, with a few conditions this page lays out with figures.

Read the full answer

Is Matera The Oldest City In The World?

Matera, in Basilicata, southern Italy, is often called one of the oldest cities on earth. The UNESCO record says something narrower and, read carefully, far more interesting.

Read the full answer

Why Is Craco, Italy Abandoned?

Craco is a ghost town in Basilicata, about an hour's drive from Matera, emptied by landslides and evacuated in stages over time. This page explains what happened, and how the empty hill town fits into a Matera itinerary.

Read the full answer

What Is So Special About Matera, Italy?

Matera is an inland city in Basilicata, southern Italy, whose old quarters, the Sassi, are cave dwellings and rock churches cut into pale tufa limestone above the Gravina canyon, inscribed by UNESCO in 1993 and still used as a film set.

Read the full answer

Is Matera Part Of Puglia?

Matera sits on the Puglia border, shares its name with a Puglian province and appears in half the Puglia itineraries online, but the city itself belongs to Basilicata. Here is the region question answered plainly.

Read the full answer

What Does Sassi Mean In Italian?

Sassi is the Italian word for stones, and in Matera it names the two old cave quarters, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, cut into the pale tufa limestone of the Gravina canyon.

Read the full answer

Does It Snow In Matera, Italy?

Matera sits inland in Basilicata at about 400 m above sea level, and its winters are genuinely cold, but snow that settles on the Sassi is a rare and short-lived event.

Read the full answer

Where To Stay In Matera With A Car?

Matera is an inland city in Basilicata, southern Italy, and it is one of the few Italian destinations where arriving by car is genuinely practical, as long as you understand where the historic centre closes to traffic.

Read the full answer

Matera Trip Planning Guides

All guides and answers
How To Get To Matera Where To Stay In Matera Best Time To Visit Matera Tickets And Passes Matera ZTL What To Eat In Matera
39 tours compared by price and rating · from $2239 tours · from $22 Compare Tours →