Matera walking tour & city guide

Walking through the Sassi

The city is split between the Sasso Barisano and the Sasso Caveoso, separated by the hill of Civita, where the cathedral stands. Stone stairways and lanes wind up and down between cave houses, many now restored as hotels, restaurants and shops, while others remain empty and evocative.

Rupestrian churches carved into the rock, such as Santa Maria de Idris and Santa Lucia alle Malve, still hold medieval frescoes. A restored cave house museum shows how families and their animals once lived together in a single room.

Viewpoints and the ravine

The Belvedere di Piazza Vittorio Veneto and the terrace near the cathedral give sweeping views over the Sassi. Across the Gravina ravine, the Murgia Park has caves and paths with the most famous panorama of the city, especially at sunset when the houses glow.

Matera's dramatic setting has made it a popular film location, used for biblical films and, more recently, for a James Bond chase.

Visiting tips

Matera is about an hour from Bari by car or regional train. The Sassi are full of steps and slopes, so comfortable shoes are essential. Staying overnight in a cave hotel lets you enjoy the city lit up after dark, when it is at its most magical.