Free Matera Travel Guide & Mobile App

Plan your Matera trip with Evendo. Get free guides to top attractions, restaurants, hotels, and bars. Web access or download the mobile app.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play Download the Free PDF guide
Matera
Matera photo 2
Matera photo 3
All photos

Matera, Italy, pairs the ancient Sassi cave districts with rock-cut churches, layered history, evocative streets and distinctive southern Italian culture.

The City of the Sassi

Matera rises from a ravine in Basilicata, southern Italy, with streets, stairways and dwellings carved into pale limestone. Its celebrated Sassi districts—Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano—form a dense human landscape of rock-cut homes, courtyards, churches and arched passageways. Once associated with poverty and overcrowding, the Sassi were gradually restored and are now recognised as one of Italy's most extraordinary historic environments. Beyond the cave quarters, the newer city extends across a plateau of elegant palazzi, lively squares and everyday neighbourhoods, creating a striking contrast between ancient stone and modern life.
Read more about Matera

Rock, Faith and Everyday Life

Matera's heritage is not confined to buildings. More than 150 rupestrian churches are scattered through the city and surrounding Murgia Materana, often decorated with faded medieval frescoes. The Cathedral, occupying the highest point of the historic centre, looks across the ravine, while Casa Noha and other small museums interpret the social history of the Sassi. Local life is expressed through Basilicatan food, traditional bread, craft workshops and evening passeggiata along Via del Corso and Piazza Vittorio Veneto.

A Landscape Beyond the Streets

Across the Gravina, the Parco della Murgia Materana preserves a rugged landscape of gorges, caves, Mediterranean vegetation and archaeological remains. Viewpoints around Belvedere Murgia Timone reveal the full sweep of Matera's stone quarters, particularly in the changing light of late afternoon. The setting has also attracted filmmakers, but the city's significance lies less in cinematic associations than in the continuity of human settlement, adaptation and renewal visible in its rock-hewn architecture.

When is the best time to visit Matera?

Best: April–May, October · 22–26°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January1335
February1438
March1844
April (best)2249
May (best)2645
June3229
July3418
August3428
September2948
October (best)2475
November1682
December1345

Getting to and around Matera

How to get there

Matera has no commercial airport of its own. The nearest major gateway is Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport in Puglia, from which travellers can continue by road, taxi or public transport connections towards Matera. Bari Centrale is the principal railway hub for onward travel, while Ferrovie Appulo Lucane trains connect Bari with Matera on a separate regional line; services and connections should be checked before departure. Long-distance coaches also link Matera with several Italian cities, and the city is reachable by road from Bari, Naples and other southern destinations. Matera's railway station is close to the modern centre, rather than inside the Sassi.

Transportation

The historic centre and both Sassi districts are best explored on foot, although steep slopes, steps and uneven paving make comfortable footwear important. Local buses serve the newer neighbourhoods and provide useful links to areas beyond the central walking circuit. Taxis can help with luggage or journeys between the station, accommodation and the upper town, while driving into the Sassi is restricted in parts and parking is more practical around the modern centre. The Murgia plateau is reached separately from the urban core, and its walking routes require preparation rather than being treated as ordinary city streets.

Best attractions in Matera

Matera's principal attraction is the Sassi, where Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano unfold as a maze of cave homes, stairways, courtyards and stone terraces above the Gravina. Casa Noha offers an audiovisual introduction to the city's transformation, while the MUSMA museum places contemporary sculpture within the atmospheric setting of the Palazzo Pomarici. The Cathedral stands above the old quarters, and the rock-cut churches of Santa Maria de Idris and San Pietro in Monterrone reveal the spiritual history embedded in the limestone. Across the ravine, the Parco della Murgia Materana provides walking routes, archaeological remains and wide views back towards the city. The modern centre adds Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the underground Palombaro Lungo cistern and lively streets lined with cafés and small shops, giving sightseeing in Matera a varied rhythm between enclosed cave interiors, open plateaux and inhabited urban spaces.

Show more attractions

Best landmarks in Matera

Matera's landmarks express the close relationship between architecture and limestone. The Cathedral of Maria Santissima della Bruna and Sant'Eustachio crowns the Civitas hill, its medieval form marking the historic centre's religious and civic importance. In Sasso Caveoso, the rock church of Santa Maria de Idris is carved into a prominent outcrop, while San Pietro e San Paolo al Caveoso stands beside it as a more conventional stone-built church. Piazza Vittorio Veneto belongs to the newer urban centre but contains the Palombaro Lungo, a vast underground cistern that demonstrates the ingenuity of Matera's water system. The Casa Cava cultural venue, created from excavated rock, illustrates the contemporary reuse of the old quarters. Across the Gravina, the rupestrian churches and caves of the Murgia form a landscape landmark rather than a single monument, linking the city to its prehistoric and medieval surroundings.

Show more landmarks

Explore Matera on the map

Plan your Matera trip on one map. See where the top attractions, landmarks, restaurants, bars and hotels are, find what's near where you're staying, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Neighbourhoods in Matera

Best restaurants in Matera

Matera's food culture is rooted in the farming traditions of Basilicata and the plateau around the city. Pane di Matera, protected by an IGP designation, is prized for its firm crust and distinctive shape, and appears alongside local cheeses, cured meats, vegetables and legumes. Traditional cooking includes crapiata, a substantial dish of pulses and grains associated with Matera, as well as cialledda, a bread-based preparation suited to the region's dry climate. Menus in the Sassi and modern centre range from rustic trattorias and bakeries to contemporary kitchens interpreting Lucanian ingredients. San Biagio and streets around Via del Corso offer plentiful places to eat, while food shops provide regional olive oil, wine, peperoni cruschi and preserved produce. Meals tend to be leisurely, with pasta, grilled meats and seasonal vegetables forming the backbone of local dining.

Show more restaurants

Best bars in Matera

Matera's evenings are more atmospheric than club-centred. After dark, the illuminated Sassi create a dramatic setting for wine bars, small cafés and restaurants occupying renovated stone spaces, while the modern centre around Piazza Vittorio Veneto and Via del Corso provides a more everyday social scene. Local wines from Basilicata, aperitivo drinks and craft beers are commonly enjoyed before dinner, and cultural programming may bring concerts, theatre or temporary performances to courtyards and historic venues. Nightlife is generally relaxed and conversational rather than dominated by large nightclubs, with activity shaped by the season and the city's cultural calendar. The quieter lanes of the Sassi are residential in character, so visitors should keep noise low and use established routes when returning to accommodation at night.

Show more bars

Best nightclubs in Matera

Matera's evenings are more atmospheric than club-centred. After dark, the illuminated Sassi create a dramatic setting for wine bars, small cafés and restaurants occupying renovated stone spaces, while the modern centre around Piazza Vittorio Veneto and Via del Corso provides a more everyday social scene. Local wines from Basilicata, aperitivo drinks and craft beers are commonly enjoyed before dinner, and cultural programming may bring concerts, theatre or temporary performances to courtyards and historic venues. Nightlife is generally relaxed and conversational rather than dominated by large nightclubs, with activity shaped by the season and the city's cultural calendar. The quieter lanes of the Sassi are residential in character, so visitors should keep noise low and use established routes when returning to accommodation at night.

Show more nightclubs

Best shops in Matera

Shopping in Matera combines food traditions with small-scale craft and design. The streets of the modern centre, especially around Via del Corso and Via Ridola, contain independent shops, bakeries, delicatessens and boutiques, while the Sassi focus more on artisan outlets and locally themed gifts. Good regional purchases include Pane di Matera, Basilicatan pulses, olive oil, wine, preserved vegetables and peperoni cruschi, the dried peppers widely associated with the region. Ceramics, carved tufa objects, textiles and hand-finished items appear in workshops and galleries, though quality and provenance vary. Rather than treating the Sassi as a conventional shopping mall, visitors will find a more distinctive experience in browsing businesses adapted to former cave rooms and historic stone buildings, with many shops closing or changing rhythm during the quieter parts of the day.

Show more shops

Get your free copy of our complete guide to Matera, delivered straight to you.

Everything on this page, from attractions and restaurants to essentials and local phrases, in one PDF you can read offline, print or share.

Already have an account? Sign in

By clicking Create account, you accept the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Matera essentials

Currency and Payment
Italy uses the euro, with the international currency code EUR. Cards and contactless payments are widely used in hotels, museums, restaurants and larger shops, though smaller cafés, market stalls and independent businesses may still prefer cash or have a minimum card transaction. ATMs are available in the modern centre and around the main visitor areas; bank machines may offer currency conversion, so international visitors should compare the displayed options with their own bank's terms. Carrying a modest amount of euro cash is sensible when visiting small rural businesses or travelling beyond Matera.
Safety
Matera is generally navigable for visitors, but the Sassi require care because lanes can be narrow, surfaces polished or uneven, and stairways poorly suited to hurried walking. Keep valuables secure in crowded viewpoints, buses and busy squares, as in other Italian destinations. After dark, remain on well-used routes and take particular care around the ravine and on unlit paths outside the built-up area. Summer heat can be intense on exposed stone streets and the Murgia plateau, so water, sun protection and sensible pacing are important. Check weather conditions before undertaking longer walks near the gorge.
Emergency Situations
In Italy, call 112 for urgent assistance from police, fire or medical emergency services; operators can direct the request to the appropriate service. Give the exact street, viewpoint or nearby landmark, since the Sassi contain many stairways and passages that can be difficult to identify quickly. For non-life-threatening medical needs, pharmacies can advise on local services, while European Health Insurance Card holders should carry the card and other travellers should have appropriate insurance documentation. In an emergency on the Murgia trails, describe the route and access point clearly and avoid leaving the injured person alone unless necessary.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress respectfully when entering churches, particularly if shoulders or knees are exposed, and follow instructions about photography, silence and access to fragile frescoes. Do not climb on walls, enter closed caves or touch paintings and carved surfaces. In restaurants, service charges and coperto practices vary, so check the bill rather than assuming that a large tip is expected; rounding up or leaving a small additional amount is generally sufficient when service has been good. Keep voices moderate in residential parts of the Sassi, where restored homes and working businesses share space with visitors.
Local Tips
The modern centre around Piazza Vittorio Veneto is useful for orientation, cafés and everyday services, while the Sassi reward slow exploration rather than a rapid photographic circuit. Visit at least one interpretive museum or guided rupestrian church to understand how water management, domestic life and religious practice worked in the caves. For broader views, use established viewpoints towards the Gravina and allow additional time for the Murgia Materana if conditions are suitable. Local bakeries are good places to look for Matera bread, and evenings often bring a relaxed passeggiata along the central streets.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloCiao[chow]
GoodbyeArrivederci[ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee]
YesSì[see]
NoNo[noh]
Please/You're welcomePer favore/Prego[pehr fah-VOH-reh/PRAY-goh]
Thank youGrazie[GRAH-tsyeh]
Excuse me/SorryScusa/Mi dispiace[SKOO-zah/MEE dees-PYAH-cheh]
How are you?Come stai?[KOH-meh stah-ee]
Fine. And you?Bene. E tu?[BEH-neh. eh too]
Do you speak English?Parli inglese?[PAHR-lee een-GLAY-zeh]
I don't understandNon capisco[non kah-PEES-koh]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseVorrei vedere il menù, per favore[voh-RAY veh-DEH-reh eel MEH-noo, pehr fah-VOH-reh]
I don't eat meatNon mangio carne[non MAHN-joh KAR-neh]
Cheers!Salute![sah-LOO-teh]
I would like to pay, pleaseVorrei pagare, per favore[voh-RAY pah-GAH-reh, pehr fah-VOH-reh]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Aiuto![ah-YOO-toh]
Go away!Vattene![vaht-TEH-neh]
Call the Police!Chiama la polizia![KYAH-mah lah poh-LEE-tsyah]
Call a doctor!Chiama un dottore![KYAH-mah oon doh-TOH-reh]
I'm lostMi sono perso[mee SOH-no pehr-soh]
I'm illSto male[stoh MAH-leh]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Vorrei comprare...[voh-RAY kohm-PRAR-eh]
I'm just lookingSto solo guardando[stoh SOH-loh gwar-DAHN-doh]
How much is it?Quanto costa?[KWAHN-toh KOHS-tah]
That's too expensiveÈ troppo caro[eh TROH-poh KAH-roh]
Can you lower the price?Puoi abbassare il prezzo?[PWEE ahb-bah-SAH-reh eel PREH-tsoh]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Che ora è?[keh OH-rah eh]
It's one o'clockÈ l'una[eh LOO-nah]
Half past (10)Sono le dieci e mezza[SOH-no leh dyeh-chee eh MEHT-zah]
MorningMattina[maht-TEE-nah]
AfternoonPomeriggio[poh-meh-REE-joh]
EveningSera[SEH-rah]
YesterdayIeri[YEH-ree]
TodayOggi[OH-jee]
TomorrowDomani[doh-MAH-nee]
1Uno[OO-noh]
2Due[DWEH]
3Tre[TREH]
4Quattro[KWAT-troh]
5Cinque[CHEEN-kweh]
6Sei[SAY]
7Sette[SEHT-teh]
8Otto[OH-toh]
9Nove[NOH-veh]
10Dieci[DYEH-chee]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Dov'è...?[doh-VEH]
What's the address?Qual è l'indirizzo?[kwahl eh leen-DEER-eetzoh]
Can you show me (on the map)?Puoi mostrarmi (sulla mappa)?[PWEE mohs-TRAHR-mee SOOL-lah MAHP-pah]
When's the next (bus)?Quando passa il prossimo (autobus)?[KWAHN-doh PAHS-sah eel PROHS-see-moh OW-toh-boo]
A ticket (to ....)Un biglietto (per ....)[oon beel-LYEHT-toh pehr]

History of Matera

Prehistoric Settlement in the Gravina

The Matera area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, helped by natural caves, water sources and defensible positions along the Gravina. Archaeological evidence from the surrounding territory records settlements dating back to the Palaeolithic period, while later communities adapted existing cavities for homes, storage and religious use. The ravine was not simply a barrier: it provided shelter, grazing land and access to a varied landscape of rock faces and plateaux. This long continuity of occupation explains why Matera's historic quarters are best understood as an evolving settlement rather than a single planned monument. Layers of excavation, domestic architecture and rock-cut spaces reveal how successive communities responded to the same limestone environment.

From Lucania to Roman Territory

Ancient Matera developed within the wider cultural world of Lucania, a region shaped by interaction among Italic communities, Greek coastal settlements and later Roman power. The town is commonly associated with the ancient name Matheola, although the precise development of the early urban centre remains a subject for archaeological interpretation. Roman expansion brought the territory into a broader political and commercial system, while routes through the interior connected settlements across southern Italy. The foundations of later occupation were established through this gradual accumulation of rural, civic and defensive activity rather than through one clearly documented act of foundation.

Medieval Rule and Rupestrian Christianity

During the early Middle Ages, Matera stood within a frontier zone influenced first by Byzantine and then by Lombard power. Monastic communities and religious settlers made extensive use of the ravine's caves, creating rock-cut churches whose frescoes preserve traces of Byzantine, local and later Western Christian traditions. Norman rule in the eleventh century brought Matera into the political orbit of the Kingdom of Sicily, and the town continued to develop as a bishopric and administrative centre. The Cathedral, begun in the thirteenth century on the Civitas hill, reflects the growing importance of the stone-built medieval town above the cave settlements.

A Provincial Capital in Southern Italy

Matera remained linked to the Kingdom of Naples and later to the Bourbon domains before becoming part of unified Italy in 1861. In 1663 it became the capital of the province of Basilicata, a status it retained until the provincial seat was transferred to Potenza in 1806 under Napoleonic reorganisation. The loss of administrative primacy altered the town's political role, while the Sassi continued to function as densely occupied working districts. Homes, churches, cisterns, animal shelters and communal spaces were integrated into the rock, producing a distinctive urban system shaped by limited resources and local adaptation.

Displacement and the Sassi Crisis

By the twentieth century, poor sanitation, overcrowding and inadequate services in the Sassi had become a major national concern. Carlo Levi's 1945 book Cristo si è fermato a Eboli drew wider attention to rural southern poverty, although Matera itself was not the book's setting. Government policies in the 1950s relocated many Sassi residents to newly built neighbourhoods on the plateau, leaving large areas of the old quarters empty. The clearances disrupted established communities, but they also created the conditions for a later reassessment of the Sassi as a major historical and architectural inheritance rather than a problem to be erased.

Restoration and International Recognition

From the late twentieth century, conservation policies gradually shifted towards stabilising, restoring and reusing the Sassi. Matera and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993, recognising the exceptional relationship between settlement, cave architecture and landscape. Restoration brought homes, churches, cultural spaces and hospitality businesses back into use, while debates about authenticity, access and resident life continued. Matera's selection as European Capital of Culture for 2019 brought international attention to its cultural programme and reinforced its transformation from a neglected historic district into a living, carefully managed city.

Travel experiences inspired by this city

Explore more travel diaries

Matera in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

0 / 0

Cities near Matera

The closest cities to Matera, if you have time for more than one stop.

Explore more

Italy
More of the region

Explore more of Italy

Discover Italy: A land of ancient history, artistic marvels, and culinary delights; where every corner reveals a new story and every meal is a celebration.

Explore Italy
The Evendo app on two phones

Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Matera, Italy

Discover Matera like never before with Evendo, the 100% free app-based travel guide that covers attractions, landmarks, shops, restaurants, hotels, and more.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities
  • Rich descriptions, images, local tips, maps, and contact details for each location
  • Easy booking of hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
More about the Evendo app

Plan and explore Matera effortlessly with Evendo. Get detailed info on attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more—all in one free, easy-to-use app.

  • Comprehensive history and travel essentials for Matera
  • Curated local tips for an authentic experience
  • 'Near Me' feature for real-time location-based suggestions
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases or additional costs
  • Coverage of over 7,000 destinations worldwide

Welcome to Matera—Italy's hidden gem known for its ancient cave dwellings and stunning architecture. With Evendo, your journey through Matera becomes an unforgettable adventure. Imagine walking through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sassi di Matera, exploring ancient churches like the Matera Cathedral, and dining at renowned restaurants such as Osteria al Casale. Evendo is here to guide you every step of the way.

Evendo offers detailed information on all the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities in Matera. Each location comes with rich descriptions, images, local tips, maps, and contact details, making it incredibly easy for you to plan and organize your trip. Discover amazing new things to do in Matera without the hassle of endless searches or complicated bookings.

Easily book hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences directly through the app. No more juggling multiple websites or wondering how to get there. With Evendo, everything you need is in one place. The app also features a comprehensive history of Matera, travel essentials, and curated local tips to help you experience the city like a local. The 'Near Me' feature allows you to see what attractions are around you in real-time, enhancing your exploration.

And the best part? Evendo is 100% free to use. No in-app purchases, no additional costs—just pure, unfiltered travel bliss. Plus, Evendo doesn't just stop at Matera; it covers over 7,000 other destinations worldwide. So, once you download the app, you have the world in your pocket.

Get the latest from Evendo

Hand-picked travel deals, new destination guides and trip ideas, straight to your inbox.