During a holiday in Puglia, a visit to Matera is an unmissable experience. Although located in Basilicata, Matera is very close to the Apulian border and shares numerous landscapes and cultural traditions with the Murge Puglia.
The city of the Sassi, with its houses carved into the rock, offers a breathtaking view that seems like a work of art carved over time. If you are visiting these areas of Italy, it is worth including Matera in your itinerary. You can reach Matera by plane from the nearest airport in Bari. Airlines offer daily flights to the city. You can compare prices and book a plane ticket on aggregator sites Momondo, Kayak, Kissandfly.it or Skyskanner.
From Bari to Matera there are trains and buses. The journey takes approximately 1,5-2 hours. For those who want greater independence, it will be convenient to rent a car, useful for exploring the other places in the area Puglia.
If you like visiting attractions without the hustle and crowd, avoiding the heat of summer, we recommend planning a visit to Matera from autumn to spring.
What to see in Matera, the city of the Sassi
Visiting Matera means immersing yourself in the history and culture of its Sassi, a UNESCO heritage site.
The first typical houses of Matera, the cave houses, date back to the Neolithic. These houses, dug into the tuff rock, served as multifunctional homes, also hosting pets.
They were regularly inhabited until the 1950s, when the Italian government moved the residents into modern homes.
Today these caves, after redevelopment interventions, host clubs, restaurants, museums and hotels with a unique charm.
The historic center is divided into two districts, Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, separated by the imposing spur of the Civita, on which the Cathedral stands. Walking through its tuff streets, exploring ancient rock churches, cave houses and deep cisterns, is a journey through centuries of history. The churches, embedded in the rock, create a unique and fascinating atmosphere.
To admire the beauty of Matera there are many panoramic points. Piazza Vittorio Veneto offers a splendid view of the Sasso Barisano, while Piazzetta Pascoli offers a unique vision of the Sasso Caveoso, the Duomo and the Monterrone cliff with its rock churches. These viewpoints allow you to appreciate Matera both in daylight and illuminated like a nativity scene in the evening.
Matera is famous for its rock churches, most of which are located in the Sassi. These churches, founded during the Early Middle Ages, often decorated their walls with Byzantine frescoes. Places such as the Church of Santa Maria di Idris and the churches of Monterrone are extraordinary examples of this heritage, with frescoes that tell centuries of religious history.
On the top of the Civita stands the Cathedral of Matera, dedicated to the Madonna della Bruna and Sant'Eustachio. Built in Romanesque-Apulian style, the cathedral is famous for its large rose window, symbol of the wheel of fortune, which warns of the cyclical nature of fate.
The Matera cuisine is simple but tasty, with traditional dishes such as Matera bread, cialledda and crusco pepper. Lucanian cuisine highlights simple but tasty ingredients, offering an authentic gastronomic experience.
Matera, with its Sassi and its rich cultural and historical heritage, is an unmissable destination that offers a unique experience, transporting visitors on a journey through time and the timeless beauty of Basilicata.
What to see around Matera
To fully understand Matera, it is essential to explore the Murgia Materana Park. This archaeological park is rich in prehistoric remains and rock churches. The entrenched Neolithic villages, discovered by archaeologist Domenico Ridola, offer a glimpse into the region's ancient past.
Craco, an uninhabited village
In the surroundings of Matera, it is possible to visit picturesque villages such as Craco, a ghost town, and Venosa, with its Aragonese castle and other suggestive places such as Pietragalla and its Palmenti.
The Palmenti di Pietragalla are essentially natural caves, dug and sculpted over the centuries, with specific sections for pressing the grapes and collecting the must.
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