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Welcome to Matera, Italy — a metropolis carved fully from stone, regarded as the third-oldest settlement on the earth after Aleppo and Jericho. Matera and its historical cave homes often called sassi sit on a rocky canyon in Basilicata, Southern Italy.
Folks lived in these caves in Matera, with neither electrical energy not working water, as late because the Fifties. When this got here to mild, town of Matera was known as “Italy’s Nice Disgrace.”
Matera escaped the radar of overseas vacationers for many years. Nonetheless, being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Website in 1993 put the Metropolis of Caves on the map for tourism — and film scouts. Elements of The Ardour of the Christ and Marvel Girl had been filmed on location in Matera.
After which got here 2019 — after I lastly visited Matera as a part of a Puglia street journey. (Whereas Matera is technically a part of Basilicata, it’s simply barely over the border from Puglia and is likely one of the hottest locations for vacationers in Puglia. I’m categorizing it in my Puglia content material for that purpose.)
That 12 months, Matera was designated a European Capital of Tradition; shortly after, a automobile chase within the James Bond film No Time to Die was filmed within the stone metropolis. Customer numbers skyrocketed as vacationers “rocked” as much as {photograph} the vistas and sleep in luxurious cave lodges.
Matera lived as much as my sky-high expectations — and I believe it’s going to for you, too. There’s not a single place in Italy that appears like Matera. That’s precisely why you need to plan a go to.
This put up was printed in December 2023 and co-written by Adventurous Kate and Hannah Cooper.
![Kate wears a red dress with an asymmetrical hemline and poses in front of the city of Matera: stone towers and homes built on top of a row of sassi (caves).](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Kate-in-Matera-1024x738.jpg)
Finest Issues to Do in Matera, Italy
Stroll by the Outdated City
For all first-time Matera guests, I like to recommend getting the lay of the land with a wander across the historic middle. Piazza Vittorio Veneto is the pure start line in your first time in Matera, as this massive public sq. is house to a number of points of interest on this checklist, together with Palombaro Lungo and Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio detto dei Tre Archi. Look out for Salvador Dalí’s Area Elephant, too.
Matera is nice enjoyable to discover independently, though this historical walk with a local guide will deepen your understanding of Matera’s distinctive historical past. As a non-public guided tour, some customization to the itinerary is feasible. Typically, the route focuses on the Sassi di Matera facet of the traditional city and supplies a possibility to listen to extra concerning the tradition, historical past, and structure in addition to the “Disgrace of Italy.”
And should you’re a photographer, this sunset tour in Matera coincides with sunset when town is saturated in gold and amber mild. This exercise is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Matera in summer time.
In the event you’re a photographer, you need to completely prioritize photographing town at sundown (or dawn, should you’re an overachiever), as a result of there’s nowhere else on the earth like this.
![A simple church facade carved into a big, flat piece of rock in Matera.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Church-of-San-Pietro-Barisano-Matera-Italy-1024x683.jpg)
Go to the Church of San Pietro Barisano
Matera accommodates round 150 spiritual websites, lots of that are rupestrian church buildings: rock church buildings dug into the tufa stones of Matera. That’s an formidable quantity to tick off, so make a beeline for one of many huge ones: Chiesa di San Pietro Barisano.
As the most important of Matera’s rupestrian church buildings, this is likely one of the key sights to find whereas roaming the previous city. Its foundations date again to the twelfth century, though the frescoes marking the doorway are from the sixteenth century. Step inside and also you’ll see a sequence of burial niches.
It’s free to go to the Church of Saint Peter Barisano.
![A small white tuk tuk driving through the stone streets of Matera.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Tuk-Tuk-in-Matera-Italy-1024x683.jpg)
Tour Matera by Tuk Tuk
Hurtling round Matera in a tuk tuk is an expertise you received’t neglect anytime quickly! This personal panoramic tuk-tuk tour of Matera lasts 45 minutes. The route focuses on such main landmarks because the Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the sassi of Matera, and the rupestrian church buildings.
Word that this isn’t an academic tour; it’s extra of a whirlwind picture expedition. Common stops are factored in for pictures and selfies. Additionally, you need to know that the drivers is probably not fluent in English.
Even so, it’s a cool strategy to see the previous city inside a restricted timeframe or on a baking sizzling summer time day. It’s additionally the most effective issues to do in Matera with youthful kids or anybody with who might wrestle being on their ft all day.
![A tall, square-looking stone church in Matera, Italy.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Matera-Italy-Churches-1024x694.jpg)
See the Church buildings of Matera
Out of the opposite 149 church buildings in Matera, Chiesa Rupestre di Santa Maria di Idris is likely one of the most spectacular rupestrian church buildings. Teetering over the ravine on the Monterrone hill, you’ll be able to admire it from a distance nevertheless it’s value visiting the crypt to see the frescoes. Admission is 4 EUR ($4.40 USD).
Chiesa di San Pietro Caveoso sits slightly below in a curious juxtaposition with the rock church. It’s free to go to and you’ll see a wonderful view of each church buildings on the Belvedere the place Through Muro meets Through San Giacomo.
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria della Bruna e Sant’Eustachioc (or just, Matera Cathedral) instructions consideration with its Romanesque rose window. Chiesa del Purgatorio is uncommon because it was supposed as a spot of prayer for these in purgatory. These are each free to go to.
Whereas exploring Piazza San Francesco, it’s additionally value trying out the Baroque Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi.
![Inside a cave home in Matera: a tiny bed in the corner, lots of tools hanging on the walls, a stuffed donkey, and a mannequin of a woman spinning wool.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Inside-the-Sassi-of-Matera-Italy-1024x683.jpg)
Go to the Sassi of Matera
The Sassi di Matera are divided into two classes: the Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano. Proof suggests these cave homes have been round for the reason that Paleolithic period, which is what helped earn that coveted UNESCO World Heritage standing.
It’s a good suggestion to go to Matera’s sassi as a part of a tour; there may be a lot data that offers you the historic context you want. This Sassi di Matera tour explores each cave districts and contains visits to church buildings and homes. It hones in on the historical past of Matera and the pure caves with a good bit of strolling.
As a substitute, this official open bus tour spares your ft. It’s a tad shorter and commentary is through an audio information. Whereas not as thorough because the strolling tour, it’s nonetheless an insightful expertise and contains admission to Casa Grotta Sassi di Matera.
Casa Noha is fascinating, because the minimalist exhibition is delivered by movies. These recordings don’t shrink back from the difficulties confronted by inhabitants of the caves. I’d advocate following up with a go to to Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario. It is a extra conventional expertise the place rooms are laid out with furnishings and homeware.
![A long suspension bridge hanging between two sides of a canyon, people walking across it.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Tibetano-Suspension-Bridge-Matera-Italy-1024x576.jpg)
Cross the Tibetano Suspension Bridge
Stretch your legs by mountaineering to the Ponte Tibetano della Gravina, a suspension bridge strung throughout the Gravina di Matera. It’s not as excessive up as you assume, so even should you’re a bit afraid of heights, you is likely to be okay with this bridge!.
The Tibetan-style bridge is accessible through a brief however strenuous hike from Through Madonna delle Virtù. Correct footwear is necessary and warning must be taken within the warmth or after rainfall. Matera will get sizzling by a lot of the 12 months, particularly summer time. You’ll want to deliver a bottle of water and put on solar safety.
The views are excellent right here, and it’s free to go to.
![The Palombaro Lungo, a gateway to an underground area in Matera with arched columns covered with overgrown vegetation.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Palombaro-Lungo-Matera-Italy-1024x683.jpg)
Head underground to Palombaro Lungo
Matera is filled with surprises, and few locations are extra surprising than this whopping huge underground cistern. Palombaro Lungo was carved into the caverns beneath Piazza Vittorio Veneto and as soon as held 5 million liters of water. Whereas it’s not the one tank lurking beneath town, it’s the most important by far.
This was considered one of my favourite locations to go to in Matera, and it offers perception to the engineering marvel that town was previously and immediately.
Coined the Cathedral of Water, Palombaro Lungo is an enormous labyrinth the place you’ll be able to settle down on a sizzling summer time’s day. (For that purpose, I like to recommend saving this for the most well liked time of day — the early afternoon.) Regardless of the dimensions, it solely takes quarter-hour to wander by the exhibition.
Admission is 3 EUR ($2.50 USD).
![The belvedere (view of Matera) with layers of stone buildings and a church steeple, in black and white.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Belvedere-Matera-Italy-1024x661.jpg)
Take within the Belvedere
In a hilly city like Matera, each road nook is worthy of belvedere standing. Nonetheless, the Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio detto dei “Tre Archi” claims the highest spot for really spectacular views.
These sweep proper throughout the Sassi di Matera and body the cathedral. Truthfully, there’s no unhealthy time to go to the belvedere. Sundown is the plain time, however the views are attractive always of day. In the event you’re staying a couple of days in Matera, I like to recommend visiting at completely different instances of day to get pictures with completely different varieties of sunshine.
The Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli is another choice.
Discover Ipogeo MateraSum
Ipogeo MateraSum is one other underground attraction close to the cistern. Because it’s lesser recognized, it’s typically skipped off a typical day journey to Matera and is likely one of the greatest uncommon issues to do in Matera.
The museum illustrates the lifestyle within the cave complicated. It’s not fairly as spectacular as Palombaro Lungo or the cave homes, nevertheless it’s nonetheless value visiting in case you have greater than a day in Matera.
Admission is 7 EUR ($7.50 USD) and contains an audio information.
![People walking down a stone street in Matera next to a church with a Dali exhibit.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Madonna-della-Virtu-Matera-Italy-1024x768.jpg)
Take a look at the Rock Advanced a Madonna della Virtù
Constructed within the Center Ages, the Complesso Rupestre Madonna delle Virtù e San Nicola dei Greci is a monastery and church complicated. It teeters on the sting of the sassi and grants sneaky views of town and ravine at sure factors.
The Salvador Dalí set up ushered within the crowds for a few years. Even with out the exhibition, the caves are adorned with fastidiously preserved frescoes to pore over. The simplicity of the church makes it all of the extra stunning and the compound has fallen quieter for the reason that removing of the Dalí exhibit.
![A path edged with purple and green shrubs leading through a rocky landscape near Matera.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Murgia-Materano-Park-Matera-Italy-1024x683.jpg)
Hike in Murgia Materana Park
Located east of the Sassi di Matera, Murgia Materana Park is a big regional park on the other facet of the Matera Ravine. You mainly cross the suspension bridge and simply hold strolling.
As soon as there, you’ll spot a cluster of viewpoints and rupestrian church buildings on the very best level of this facet of the park. It’s a well-trodden path and there’s no have to enlist a information until you need to enterprise deeper into the wilderness.
Climbing in Murgia Materana Park is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Matera in case you have longer than a day. The payoff is epic views of the entire space surrounding the attractive metropolis.
![A bowl full of Italian panzanella (bread salad) and an aperol spritz, overlooking a view of Matera, with the stone houses and the church tower pointing upward.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Restaurant-with-a-view-Matera-Italy-768x1024.jpg)
E book a Restaurant with a View
Spherical off a busy day of sightseeing with dinner spent feasting on the caves and church buildings of Matera.
Regiacorte is likely one of the greatest locations for upscale eating with views galore on the seasonal terrace. Go for the degustation menu and wine pairing should you’re trying to splurge. Parts are on the smaller facet however they’re full of taste with a presentation as scrumptious because the style.
Pattern regional specialties like burrata and orecchiette pasta at Osteria al Casale – the pizza isn’t half unhealthy both. Well-liked with native households, the restaurant sits on the sting of the Sassi di Matera with the choice to take a seat contained in the cave or on the terrace.
Pleasant and fuss-free, Vicolo Cieco is the right place to get pleasure from aperitivo on the patio in summer time, simply earlier than sundown. The vintage-style inside is cozy on a cooler day in Matera.
![A tall museum in Matera, with a clock perched on top of the building.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Museum-in-Matera-Italy-1024x683.jpg)
Be taught (and Play) at Native Museums
Pad out an extended itinerary (or a wet day) in Matera with one or two further museums. The Museum of Up to date Sculpture (MUSMA) is contained inside the Seventeenth-century Palazzo Pomarici. Emphasis is positioned on fashionable statues which strikes a kooky distinction with the palatial cave setting.
Laboratory Museum of Rural Life is a treasure trove of instruments utilized by craftspeople within the area. It’s deceptively giant – particularly contemplating the marginal entry payment of 4 EUR ($4.35 USD) – and considerably chaotic. Though, it’s the cheerfully chaotic nature that makes it a lot enjoyable to discover.
The Matera Olive Oil Museum (MOOM) takes you right down to an underground olive oil mill. MOOM can solely be visited on a guided tour, which lasts about 20 minutes. You will need to make your reservation no less than 3 days upfront. Get extra data, and the hyperlink to make your reservation, on the official website.
Mission to Matera, anybody? Sparkme Area Academy is an immersive museum of astronomical proportions! Good for the complete household, this tour of the Museum of Space in Matera is the antidote to all of the historical past.
![A close up of a tiny model of the cave homes of Matera maybe 1000 years ago.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sassi-in-Miniatura-Matera-Italy-1024x684.jpg)
See Sassi in Miniatura
If wandering round Matera’s sassi isn’t sufficient then you’ll be able to study the caves in micro-form. Sassi in Miniatura is a memento retailer with a limestone duplicate mannequin of the Sassi di Matera. Simply pop in and you’ll go to it at no cost within the rear of the store.
Seeing as Sassi in Miniatura is at the start a present retailer, this is likely one of the greatest locations to choose up mementos or trinkets.
The sculptures are available in all completely different sizes with costs catering to backpackers and luxurious vacationers.
![A bowl of cavatelli pasta with tomatoes and basil.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Pasta-Dinner-Italy-1024x678.jpg)
Dine with Locals
Being invited to dinner in an Italian house is nearly the most effective issues that may occur to you in Italy. This dining experience is a strategy to just do that — and it takes place on the house of an area prepare dinner in Matera.
Huddled across the kitchen desk, glass of wine in hand, you’ll observe a cooking demonstration and chow down on a four-course meal. The exercise is supported with cooking suggestions, tips, and knowledge — plus mountains of anecdotes.
This distinctive cultural expertise in Matera is obtainable for lunch or dinner.
![A cave filled with paintings of saints in Matera Italy.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Crypt-of-Original-Sin-Matera-Italy-1024x662.jpg)
Enter the Crypt of Authentic Sin
The Crypt of Authentic Sin is a 15-minute drive southwest of Matera. This church is hewn into the pure caves and was a part of a Benedictine rock monastery when the Lombard tribes had been in Italy.
Richly embellished with frescoes from the Center Ages, the church is nicknamed the “Sistine Chapel of Rupestrian Artwork.” Wall work depict typical scenes of the Apostles, the Archangels, the Virgin Mary, and child Jesus. Nonetheless, it’s the illustration of Adam and Eve within the Backyard of Eden that hogs the limelight.
Public transport doesn’t go right here so that you’ll have to drive or be part of a tour from Matera. Preserve your eyes peeled for indicators saying “Cripta del Peccato Originale” and keep in mind to make a reservation should you go to independently.
![A small Italian street with arched lights in a lace-like pattern.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Altamura-787x1024.jpg)
Go to Altamura
Twenty minutes north of Matera, Altamura is a Pugliese city with stunning structure and a legacy for bread-making. In the event you’re doing a day journey from a city on the coast to Matera — or transferring on to your subsequent location — that is the right cease after leaving.
On the very least, cease briefly at Antico Forno Santa Caterina to choose up some focaccia. They’ve the oldest oven on the town, courting again to medieval instances. Their focaccia is stupendously good — most likely one of the best I’ve had in my life (sorry, Liguria) — and comes topped with an assortment of regional meats, cheeses, or veggies.
In the event you’d like, carry your slice to Piazza Duomo and admire the carved facade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. The church blends Romanesque and Gothic components and is free to enter. When you have time, wander across the previous city and medieval gates.
![A ramp leading around a stone church topped with purple flowers in Matera.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/City-of-Matera-Italy-1024x684.jpg)
How A lot Time to Spend in Matera, Italy
Matera is arguably the preferred day journey vacation spot in and round Puglia — and certainly, someday in Matera is sufficient to see the principle sights and the sassi. There are many choices to go about your day journey both independently or with a tour.
That stated, you’ll be able to completely get pleasure from your self and discover Matera in better depth should you spend a couple of days right here. And should you’re in a position to take action, I’d advocate staying in a cave resort. They’ve loads at completely different worth factors, which I’m going into beneath.
In the event you’re a photographer, it’s important to have a couple of days in Matera to make the most of a number of sunsets and provides your self a buffer in case of unhealthy climate. (However in fact, should you’re a photographer, you already know that.)
![Layers upon layers of square stone buildings in the city of Matera.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Buildings-in-Matera-Italy-1024x683.jpg)
Methods to Get to Matera, Italy
Bari Worldwide Airport (BRI), Puglia’s main airport, is the closest airport to Matera. It’s round an hour’s drive in a rental automobile or personal taxi. Direct buses from Bari Airport to Matera take 1.5 hours and are straightforward to rearrange on the airport.
If you wish to have somebody ready for you on the airport, you’ll be able to pre-book a shared transfer to Matera Centrale or a private transfer to your hotel.
In the event you’d wish to ebook a day journey to Matera from one other city, there are many group excursions, like this day trip to Matera from Bari.
Some vacationers do a southern Italy street journey that begins in Naples and ends in Bari. If that’s your plan, Matera makes a great halfway level and is 2 hours and 45 minutes from Naples. I’d advocate staying two nights in a cave resort to offer you a full day to discover Matera (to not point out two completely different sunsets).
There are trains and buses to Matera, however nothing high-speed. Take into account that on this a part of southern Italy, if it’s not a high-speed prepare, will probably be fairly gradual.
![A luxury hotel room inside a cave, with a four-poster bed and couch, all surrounded by sand-colored stone walls.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Cave-hotel-Matera-Italy-1024x683.jpg)
The place to Keep in Matera, Italy
In the event you plan to in a single day on this historical stone metropolis, a cave resort is a MUST! Take into account that a lot of Matera is closed to automobile visitors, and you could have to hold your baggage to your resort from the closest drop-off.
I picked out three completely different cave lodges in Matera at three completely different worth ranges. Right here they’re:
Luxurious: Rooms on the Corte San Pietro are carved straight into the stone of an previous cave within the UNESCO World Heritage Website. The decor is stored easy with minimal gildings apart from sunken whirlpool tubs within the personal rest room. Breakfast is served within the courtyard in summer time.
Midrange: Comprising 4 items, Endea Suite Rooms is likely one of the boutique lodges in Matera for intimacy. One of the best suite has a grotto spa tub for relieving the muscle mass after a day of hills and mountaineering. This a part of Sasso Barisano is quiet but moments from the principle church buildings.
Finances: Convey the complete household to Hydria Rooms the place sizable rooms function cave components and conventional supplies. {Couples} can go for a room with a balcony or splash out on the spa suite. All of the Sassi sights are inside strollable distance of this contemporary resort.
![Another angle of stone square buildings piled on top of each other in Matera, Italy.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Close-up-Matera-Italy-1024x676.jpg)
Finest Time to Go to Matera, Italy
In the event you can select anytime to go to Matera — or southern Italy as a complete — I’m a giant fan of shoulder season, spring and fall. These months are excellent for exploring the sights with out struggling by the searing warmth.
July and August are extraordinarily busy and I like to recommend avoiding Italy presently if potential. In the event you’re trying to get pleasure from summer time climate in Puglia and southern Italy, I like to recommend planning your journey for early June or late September.
Winter is an fascinating time to go to Matera. It may well drop into the 30s on the coldest days which suggests bundling up in heat clothes however the depleted streets are a significant benefit. Whereas Matera is a year-round metropolis, the previous city of Matera will not be — and remember the fact that many lodges and eating places can be closed within the winter.
![A brilliant sunset in Matera Italy, with pink and blue clouds above and each building in the layered stone city lit up with glowing lamps.](https://www.adventurouskate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sunset-in-Matera-Italy-1024x683.jpg)
Is Matera value it?
I believe that Matera is an absolute should for any Italy-phile. Not only for its magnificence and distinctive attributes — however due to the historical past. It’s completely surprising that individuals had been residing within the caves of Matera for therefore lengthy, together with people who find themselves nonetheless alive immediately. It’s vital to acknowledge the more durable components of life in Italy together with the nicer components.
Regardless of whether or not you go to for a day or a couple of days, Matera is a completely bewitching vacation spot. I’m positive you’ll get a few of your favourite pictures of Italy right here.
I hope you might have essentially the most great time in Matera! I do know it’s cliche to maintain saying it, however there’s actually nowhere else in Italy prefer it.
Extra on Puglia, Italy:
Planning a Journey to Italy:
Cool Locations in Southern Italy:
Cool Locations in Northern Italy:
Have you ever been to Matera, Italy? Any strategies? Share away!
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