Things to Do in Matera, Italy
Matera is a city you’ve probably seen many times in films without realizing how unique it truly is. It has that old-world charm, paired with pale stone romantism, that makes it feel incredibly cinematic. It’s not exactly off the beaten path, yet I’m still surprised it doesn’t rank higher among Italy’s top must-see destinations. Though, to be fair, Italy has no shortage of world-class places.
Stone houses carved into cliffs, narrow paths winding between caves, and golden sunset light that makes every stone two shades warmer. Matera can feel almost unreal. Ancient cave churches painted with faded frescoes tell its story in layers of stone. During my time there, I often wandered without a plan, getting lost in the Sassi, just trying to catch a photo that could hold even a little of that magic.
But Matera is more than just beautiful. There are quite a few things to do there! Here’s my list of the best things to do in Matera, so you don’t miss what truly makes it special.
key takeaways
- You need at least one full day in Matera, and ideally one night. You can explore Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano in a few hours, but staying the night see the city glow is worth far more than the extra cost.
- James Bond was filmed in Matera. In No Time to Die, the opening chase runs through Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, one of the most beautiful corners of the old town.
- Exploring the Sassi of Matera and sleeping in a cave hotel are the two things you simply have to do in Matera.
Things to do in Matera
Explore the Sassi of Matera (Sasso Barisano & Sasso Caveoso)
The one thing in Matera that you simply can’t avoid is the Sassi. The stone turns pale gold in the light, and when the church bells ring, the sound rolls gently across the ravine. Matera is a city that feels almost sacred and that’s why it’s best explored on foot. You can pull out Google Maps if you want, but honestly, it’s much more fun to wander and get a little lost. The Sassi di Matera (meaning “the stones”) are the two historic districts: Sassi Barisano and Sassi Caveoso. They fall down each side of a rocky valley and look completely different from the newer town above. Houses are carved straight into the limestone and built one on top of another. Most homes sit below today’s modern streets. In my be surprising looking at the pictures, but Matera was not built up on a hill, but carved down into the earth.
The Sassi are among the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, often described as second in age only to Petra. Many cave homes are thousands of years old, and the area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Visit the cave churches first. Santa Lucia alle Malve, from the 8th century, still preserves faded frescoes inside its stone walls. San Pietro Barisano rises from the rock in Sassi Barisano, while Santa Maria de Idris seems to grow straight out of the cliff. Matera is beautiful all day, but early morning or golden hour is best. You gat softer light for pictures and fewer people enjoying the view.
For a more raw look at the past, head toward Rione Casalnuovo in Sasso Caveoso. Here, some caves are still empty and untouched. They are simple, dark spaces that show how families once lived side by side with their animals, in cold and humid rooms carved from stone.
In other parts of the Sassi, many caves have slowly been restored and turned into restaurants, museums or small hotels. This change is part of Matera’s quiet revival, especially after the city was named European Capital of Culture in 2019. Old and new now live next to each other. And somehow, that mix is what makes walking through the Sassi feel so powerful.
Go on a Walking Tour
The historic heart of Matera is not a place you visit quickly. It asks you to slow down. If you want more context, a two-hour guided tour of the Sassi is a very good option. These tours are usually affordable, receive excellent reviews, and explain the history in a clear and structured way. You could of course read everything online before coming, but it often feels to me a bit dry and less memorable once you are actually here. Walking through the stone streets while someone tells you the story simply makes it come alive.
Small group tours tend to feel more personal and often more engaging, since you can ask questions and interact along the way. There are also private tours if you want something tailored just for you. And if the steep hills and endless stairs feel intimidating, an open-sided Ape tour (a small three-wheeled vehicle) is another way to explore without too much effort.
Visit a Sassi Museum
If you really want to understand Matera, don’t just admire the Sassi from a panoramic terrace. Step inside one. Visiting a Sassi museum is an essential part of any trip here, because it shows how families really lived in these caves for centuries. Not a romantic postcard version, but small, simple spaces carved directly into stone.
At Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario (Google Maps), in Sasso Caveoso near the rock church of Santa Maria di Idris, one single room once sheltered a family of six. They shared the space with mules, chickens, and sometimes even a pig. A bed in one corner, tools hanging on the wall, a wooden table, religious images above it: everything had a clear purpose. The house is arranged based on historical research, and the objects reflect daily rural life with honesty. It makes you pause for a moment.
If that cave feels too crowded (which can happen with tour groups), Casa Grotta C’era Una Volta (Google Maps) in Sasso Barisano offers a quieter visit option. Pair the experience with Casa Noha’s (Google Maps) historical film for context. Together, they tell the story of a city that was once called Italy’s “shame” before becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and one of its most fascinating.
Stay in a Cave Hotel
If there is one thing you absolutely have to do in Matera, it’s sleep in a cave house. Not metaphorically. Literally. Many Sassis have now been carefully restored into hotels and B&Bs with proper beds, rainfall showers and all the modern comforts you’d hope for.
When I decided to spend overnight in Matera, I wasn’t sure what to expect. My cave room was large, carved entirely from stone, and surprisingly dark—even in the middle of the day. But that darkness, combined with the thick rock walls, made it unbelievably quiet. Outside temperatures were brushing 30°C, yet inside it stayed naturally cool. I slept better than I had in weeks.
On my most recent visit, I stayed at Ai Maestri Rooms&Cafè, in a cave-style room overlooking the Via Fiorentini. The hotels in the Sassi di Matera are all small and fill up quickly, especially in high season, so I suggest you book early.
| TYPE | ACCOMMODATION | PRICE |
| Luxury | Ai Maestri Rooms&Cafè | From € 175 / night |
| Luxury | Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita | From € 333 / night |
| Mid-range | Il Belvedere | From € 185 / night |
| Budget | Il Carrubo residenza Walk&Stay | From € 130 / night |
Climb to the Matera Cathedral
At the very highest point of the old town stands the Cattedrale di Maria Santissima della Bruna e Sant’Eustachio, though most people simply call it Il Duomo. Built in the 13th century, it sits on a narrow ridge between Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, almost as if it was placed there to watch over both districts. You’ll see its bell tower long before you reach it, rising above the stone houses and guiding you uphill. The outside is Romanesque and quite simple, with clean lines and a beautiful rose window. Step inside and things feel richer. Gold details shine softly, carved decorations frame the chapels, and frescoes cover the ceiling in deep colours.
Still, for many visitors, a church is a church is a church. The real reward is outside, on the piazza. From here, Matera opens up like a theatre stage, with the Sassi spreading out below you in layers of pale stone.
Hike the Gravina di Matera
If you stand along Via Madonna delle Virtù and look down, the Gravina di Matera feels like a giant crack in the earth, separating the Sassi from the soft green hills beyond. It’s hard to believe the city is built right on the edge. The path starts near Piazza Santa Lucia alla Civita, marked on Google Maps as Ponte Tibetano della Gravina. From there, Sentiero 406 drops quickly over rocky ground. Good shoes are a must, and so is water. In summer, the heat can be strong and heavy. If you can start around 8:00 AM, do it. The trail will be almost empty and the morning light over the stones is beautiful.
About fifteen minutes later, you reach the Ponte Tibetano della Gravina, gently moving above the small river below. I remember stopping in the middle just to take it all in. Matera rises in front of you like a film set. Then the trail climbs toward Belvedere Murgia Timone, with wide views over Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano. The 3.5-kilometre round trip takes about two hours at an easy pace. If you love hiking or photography, this walk is one of the best things you can do in Matera.
Chase Matera’s Best Viewpoints
One of the simplest and most rewarding things to do in Matera is this: stop walking, turn around, and just look. Really, that’s it. The city was made to be admired from above, and some of the best moments happen when you pause and take it all in.
Right off Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the heart of the newer part of town, you’ll find Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio, also called the “Tre Archi.” It was the first viewpoint I visited in October 2025. It’s not the widest panorama in Matera, you won’t see the ravine from here, but you do get a beautiful view of the Duomo rising above the tight maze of stone houses.
For broader views, head to Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli, near Via Ridola. From this terrace, you can see the Duomo’s bell tower, a rock church carved into the cliff, and the deep ravine that frames the Sassi. If you want something even more dramatic, cross to Belvedere Murgia Timone just outside town. From there, Matera spreads out in front of you in one wide, unforgettable sweep.
Best Viewpoints in Matera
- Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio detto dei Tre Archi (Google Maps)
- Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli (Google Maps)
- Belvedere Murgia Timone (Google Maps)
- Piazza San Pietro Caveoso (Google Maps)
- Church of San Pietro Barisano (Google Maps)
- Belvedere Emilio Colombo Statista (Google Maps)
Visit Cave Churches
One more unique thing about Matera is its cave churches. Hidden in the cliffs and carved into soft tufa rock, these chiese rupestri are unlike anything else. Start with Santa Maria di Idris. From the outside, it looks almost as if the rock itself became a church. Inside, there are two tiny chapels and 12th-century frescoes that have surprisingly lasted for centuries.
Nearby, Santa Lucia alle Malve is less visually striking from the outside, but step inside and you’ll find delicate frescoes, including a tender depiction of the Virgin Mary breastfeeding. San Pietro Barisano, the largest cave church in Matera, is very different. Beneath the main floor are underground crypts with stone seats, where priests were once left to decompose. It’s a stark reminder of how faith and practical life have always been connected here.
Visiting these churches, you begin to see that Matera isn’t just a collection of really beautiful viewpoints. Each church is a testament to centuries of devotion, creativity, and the stubborn human desire to make sacred spaces in the most unexpected places.
Visit the Palombaro Lungo
You wouldn’t know about it from the outside, but right under the busy streets of Matera lies a hidden world: Palombaro Lungo. This huge underground cistern was carved out of rock in the 16th century and was the city’s lifeline for hundreds of years. Rainwater collected here and was sent through wells and fountains to give water to the people above. It could hold about five million liters of water, and if you look up, you might see rusty marks left by old buckets that sometimes got stuck or lost. Today, you can explore the cistern on your own with an English leaflet or join a guided tour in Italian, wandering this manmade labyrinth and imagining how people used to keep the city running.
The air down there is cool and damp, making it a perfect little escape from the summer heat almost as refreshing as a gelato on the square above.
Gelato at I Vizi degli Angeli
Speaking of gelato, a visit to Matera isn’t complete without stopping at I Vizi degli Angeli. (Google Maps)
This small gelateria is popular with both locals and visitors. Every scoop tastes unmistakably fresh, handcrafted with ingredients that sing, whether it’s a creamy almond or the audacious pear, cardamom, and raisin combination that somehow balances sweetness and spice perfectly. The tartufo is a must-try too, with its sour cherry center hidden inside rich chocolate.
The sorbets are just as good, though I’m usually more of a gelato-lover! Portions are fair and the price is good: three scoops for 4€, with extra flavors costing 50 cents each. The staff is friendly, and you pay before choosing your flavors. Gluten- and lactose-free options are available, so almost everyone can enjoy a treat.
Tips and FAQ
Where is Matera?
Matera is in southern Italy, in the quiet region of Basilicata. It is a small and less populated part of the country that many travellers barely glance at on a map. The landscape around it is open and green. You’ll be surrounded by rolling hills and see quite a few wind turbines turning slowly in the distance.
Matera can seem far away, but it is actually quite easy to reach. From Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) in nearby Puglia, it’s about 65 km, around one hour by car. You can visit seaside towns like Polignano a Mare and Monopoli first, before driving inland to reach this unique stone city.
Where to Stay in Matera
The most atmospheric stays are certainly the cave hotels carved into the limestone, take make up most of the Sassi di Matera district. They are quiet, cool in summer, and very dark. You don’t have to worry, you’ll get a great night sleep here!
Try to stay near Via Fiorentini, as it makes getting around much easier. (All the most if you’ve got a wheeled luggage!) Places like Ai Maestri Rooms & Caffè, the hotel I stayed at, are right in the middle of the historic centre. Think of booking early, especially in high season, because the best cave hotels seel out quickly.
How many days to spend in Matera?
You can get a good feel of Matera in one well-planned day. The city is small and easy to walk, and many travellers visit from Puglia as a simple day trip. With a full day here, you can explore both Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, visit a few cave churches, and stop for pictures at one or two viewpoints. You really don’t need to see them all; the views are similar, just as beautiful.
But staying one or two nights changes the experience completely. It gives you more time to explore the city’s hidden corners, and at night, the Sassi feel deeply romantic as Matera glows with soft lights.
Read More: Where to Stay in Puglia Complete Guide
How to get around Matera & the Sassi
If you’re arriving in Matera dreaming of driving through the Sassi in your rental car, think again. Most of the Matera’s historic centre is inside a ZTL, and cars are not allowed without special permission. Honestly, you won’t need one. The distances may look long on a map, but the town is smaller than it seems. On foot, you’ll slip easily between rock churches, quiet viewpoints, and cave restaurants, exactly as it should be.
If you have mobility issues, take a look at the tour I mention below.
Driving in Matera
One thing I did not think much about at first was driving in Matera. Like in many Italian cities, ZTL zones are part of daily life, so I assumed it would be simple. But as soon as you get close to the Sassi, it become evident it’s not that simple.
The old districts sit inside a ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato), and cars are not allowed in the Sassi di Matera without a permit. It’s best to park outside and walk in with a small backpack. Many hotels suggest nearby garages and sometimes offer luggage help if you ask in advance. My hotel recommended Parking Piazza M. Bianco (Google Maps), which costed about €20 for 24 hours.
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Puglia Travel Guide · Things to Do in Puglia · Where to Stay in Puglia · Puglia Road Trip
