A 24-Hour Guide to Matera, Italy

matera, Italy

The Southern Italy UNESCO World Heritage Site

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IS matera WORTH VISITING

Reasons Why You Should Visit Matera

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Best time to visit matera

When to Visit Matera for the Best Weather

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how much time to see matera

Taking a Day Trip to Matera or Staying Overnight

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Things to do in matera in one day

The Best Things to Do and See in Matera in One Day

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Where to stay in matera

Where We Stayed in Matera and Other Beautiful Cave Hotels in Matera

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HOW TO GET TO MAtera

The Closest Airports to Matera and Driving

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matera, italy

Although not technically in the Puglia region, Matera is a must-visit during your trip to Southern Italy. The UNESCO site is considered the third-oldest continuously inhabited place in the world, and truly stands out on its own as a unique experience we haven’t found in any of our other travels.

Wandering through the Sassi of Matera for the first, you will instantly be enraptured by this place of stone and caves and a labyrinth of stairs, all seemingly abandoned yet brimming with beauty. Matera boasts an incredible history which you can discover during your travels there, and the remainder of this Matera travel guide will outline how we spent one day (one night) in the Sassi of Matera.

Is Matera Worth Visiting

As I was planning our 9-day Puglia itinerary, I greatly debated whether or not we should spend one night in Matera. There was so much I felt I wanted to see in the Puglia region, and I didn't know if we should just take a day trip to Matera or actually book a hotel there.

After much research and inquiry on my side, we decided to stay one night in Matera, and I honestly wish we would have given ourselves a little more time to discover all that Matera held within her streets.

So if you yourself are wondering if Matera is worth visiting, the easy answer is yes!

Here are a few reasons why Matera is worth visiting:

1. Matera is worth visiting with its claim of being the third-oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.

2. Matera is worth visiting because there simply isn’t any other place like it. Even throughout the rest of Italy, we’ve never experienced a place like Matera, and upon your arrival in the Sassi you will feel like you’ve traveled back in time.

3. Matera is worth visiting, especially during your Puglia travels, because you’re in the region that’s closest to Matera, and you likely won’t make a dedicated trip just to see Matera.

Best time to visit matera

With its location in Southern Italy, Matera can offer a pleasant experience any time of year, with the ideal months to visit Matera being May-June or September-October.

Both July and August can bring both warm temperatures and a heavier influx of tourists to Matera, meaning that your explorations of the cities’ Sassi might become more taxing as you navigate the stairs in heat and around the crowds.

Matera is also prone to rain year round, with November landing the top spot for rainiest month in Matera. The rain is definitely something to consider when planning your travels to Matera, as I would imagine the stairs could become very slippery when covered with water.

We personally visited Matera in late June, and although we didn’t experience any rain, the sun was already warm as we wandered the stairs of the Sassi.

how long to spend in matera

After our 24-hour stay in the Sassi of Matera, I would recommend staying two nights in Matera to fully experience everything the city has to offer.

Although you can see most of Matera in one day, two nights gives you enough time to discover more of the churches of both Sassi in Matera, and do many of the things listed in the remainder of this post.

However, if your itinerary is short, you could easily do a day trip to Matera from the region of Puglia, which would give yourself enough time to see the highlights of the city and appreciate the Sassi.

Staying one night in Matera gives you the opportunity to stay in one of the many cave-accommodations available in Matera, providing a travel experience you might not experience elsewhere.

best things to do in matera

Despite being a small, isolated city in Southern Italy, there is no shortage of activities to do in Matera. It’s a great destination to explore if you love history, architecture, nature or all three, and you’ll find yourself in awe as you soak up the rich history and surrounding landscape of Matera.

Wander Through the Streets of the Sassi

Similar to Venice, walking through the streets of Matera feels like walking in an open air museum. You can feel the history of the place all around you as you find yourself between the stone walls and ancient caves of the Sassi.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 (italia.it), discovering the streets of the Sassi of Matera is the best way to immerse yourself in the city. The Sassi is broken into two segments, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano which can easily be walked as long as you have good mobility.

For an amazing view overlooking the Sasso Barisano, head to the Matera Cathedral. This is a great spot to see the Sassi lit up at night, a must see if you’re staying a night in Matera.

If you want a more insightful tour of the Sassi, you can book a guided tour through the streets, like this Sassi di Matera Guided Tour.

Visit the churches of Matera

Matera is home to a handful of historic churches, from the rock churches in the Sassi to the churches on the plain (the high, flat part of Matera). The cave churches of Matera are part of what makes up the Sassi itself, alongside houses, monasteries and hermitages (UNESCO.org).

Two of the more famous churches in Matera can be found in the Sasso Caveoso: the cave church of Madonna de Idris and the 14th century baroque church of San Pietro Caveoso.

The cave church of Madonna de Idris is a must visit in Matera with its impressive walls set inside a massive rock structure that can’t missed, and its crypt featuring the frescoes it preserves, ranging from the 12th to the 17th centuries (oltrelartematera.it). The two churches are walking distance from each other and can be easily visited back to back.

Learn the history of Matera at Casa Noha

In order to understand the depth of history in Matera, you’ll want to start your travels in Matera by heading to Casa Noha, where you can discover a multimedia presentation describing the rich history of the Sassi. The presentation is housed in a once inhabited cave from the 15th and 17th centuries and has now been restored to welcome guests ready to discover more about Matera.

Hike the Belvedere Murgia Timone

From Sasso Caveoso, you can overlook the Parco Della Murgia Marterana, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage site nomination in 1993. The natural park is spread across the rocky cliffs and consists of over 150 rock churches, some dating back to the Roman period. The landscape is so striking that the crucifixion scene from Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ was filmed among these rocky hills.

You can make the hike on your own and enter at the base of the Sasso Caveoso. If you’re doing the hike in the summer months, be sure to bring water! We only went as far as the tension bridge, and if its hot, be aware of how far in and out you can make it.

If you want a little more assistance and historical context on your hike, you can book a guided tour of the churches, like this Murgia Park Rocky Churches Tour.

Eat dinner with a view in matera

Part of the experience of Matera is the continuous enjoyment and wonder of the both the labrythed Sassi and striking landscape surrounding the Sassi. You can enjoy both with a delicious dinner while in Matera, and we personally had an amazing dining experience around dusk at Palazza Del Duco. We had a table outside overlooking the Belvedere Murgia Timone, but you can also dine in their stunning cave house restaurant.

where to stay in matera

Part of your experience of Matera will be to stay in a historic cave house unique to the Sassi.

I was a bit hesitant to sleep in one of these cave houses, as the history of them becomes quite gruesome over time (which you can learn about at Casa Noha), and the thought of sleeping in a windowless space didn’t appeal to me. Yet, despite my initial doubts, we thoroughly enjoyed the unique experience of staying in Matera.

Below is where we stayed in Matera and a few other options we considered when planning our travels.

HOTEL CORTE SAN PIETRO

In Matera, we booked a one night stay at Hotel Corte San Pietro. The hotel is located in the heart of one of the Matera Sassi, Sasso Caveoso, steps from the famous San Pietro church and the rock church of Santa Lucia alle Malve.

The location of Corte San Pietro could not be more perfect for exploring the Sassi, and we had a five-star experience sleeping in one of their rock suites, with private access to the streets of the Sassi from our room.

OTHER places to stay in Matera

If Hotel Corte San Pietro is booked during your travel dates or doesn’t fit your travel needs, below are two other hotel options in Matera that would provide a beautiful stay for your travels to the city.

Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita

In the oldest part of the Sassi quarters, the CIVITA, facing the spectacular Murgia park and its rock-hewn churches. It comprises 18 rooms (some of them exceeding 160m²) and an ancient church, the “Cripta della Civita”, now used as a common area, all renovated to retain their original features.

Earthen home Airbnb

Seemingly kissed by the glowing white stars looming overhead, the Idylle Maison is a harmonious symphony of white—luscious linens, furnishings, spacious cabinetry and comfy bedding—all radiating a gem-like white brilliance which mirrors the rejuvenating serenity of this totally-independent apartment.

How To Get To Matera

traveling to matera By Car

The easiest way to get to Matera is by car. Although there are bus and train options from many destinations in Puglia, they are not direct nor quick, whereas the drive to Matera from the Bari Airport is a short 48-minute drive.

closest airport to matera

Bari International Airport-Karol Wojtyla (BRI): Bari International Airport is the largest airport in Puglia and likely the one you will fly into to access the region. You can find direct flights from Paris to Bari for under €100. From Bari International Airport you can either rent a car or take a bus to Matera.

Accessing Matera By Bus

If you don’t plan to have a car when in Puglia, you can access Matera by bus easily from the Bari airport.

Planning for puglia

If you are planning a larger trip through the Puglia region of Italy, you can discover our other helpful guides to the region, like this Complete Puglia Guide, this curated list of hotels in Puglia and our roundup of the best Airbnbs in Puglia.

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