Sassi di Matera
A thousand-year-old complex of cave dwellings carved into a ravine, once called 'the shame of Italy', now a World Heritage Site and film location.
Matera lies in the region of Basilicata, but is only about 65 km from Bari and is often visited together with Puglia. The old town is made up of two cave districts: Sasso Barisano to the north and the more ancient Sasso Caveoso to the south, where people have carved homes into the rock for thousands of years. In the 1950s, residents were forcibly relocated by the government because of extremely poor sanitary conditions. Since then, restoration has gradually turned the caves into cave hotels, restaurants and museums. The site was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1993 and named European Capital of Culture in 2019. The Passion of the Christ and No Time to Die were filmed here. Highlights include the hilltop of Civita, where the cathedral stands, rock churches such as Santa Maria de Idris, a museum of restored cave dwellings, and the view back over the whole city from the Murgia plateau opposite. There are many steps, so wear non-slip shoes. The cave city is most magical when lit up at night, so staying overnight is recommended.
Opening hours
Open all day; rock-hewn church and museum approx. 09:00–19:00
Nearby sights
- Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio
- Palombaro Lungo
- San Pietro Barisano
- Sasso Barisano
- Domenico Ridola National Archaeological Museum
- Matera Cathedral
- Madonna delle Virtù & San Nicola dei Greci
- Tramontano Castle