Matera packs an extraordinary concentration of sights into a compact city center. The Sassi districts, Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, are a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements on Earth, with cave dwellings dating back 9,000 years. Most attractions are within a 20-minute walk of each other, and many are carved directly into the limestone rock. Here are the top things to do in Matera, organized by category. Check the Matera weather by month guide for more detail.
Things to Do in Matera: The Sassi Districts
Sasso Barisano
The larger and more restored of the two Sassi districts, Sasso Barisano is where you will find most cave hotels, restaurants, and shops. Its streets follow the natural contours of the ravine and open onto small piazzas. The area is named after Bari, the city it faces toward, and was historically the wealthier district. Today it is the best area for simply wandering. Follow Via Fiorentini and Via Bruno Buozzi, stopping for views across the Gravina gorge. Entry is free and the district is open 24 hours. Plan 2 to 3 hours to explore, more if you stop at cafes. Check the best time to visit Matera guide for more detail.
Sasso Caveoso
The wilder, less developed half of the Sassi, Sasso Caveoso retains a more raw, ancient feel. Named after the cave-like appearance of its dwellings, this is where you will find the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario, a restored cave house showing how families lived here until the 1950s. The area is steeper than Sasso Barisano, with some staircases carved directly into rock. Visit in late afternoon when the low sun turns the limestone walls golden. Entry is free; the Casa Grotta charges 3 EUR (open 10 AM to 6 PM daily, until 8 PM in summer). Check Matera events and festivals for more detail.
Civita
The rocky hilltop between the two Sassi, Civita is the original fortified nucleus of Matera. It is home to the Cattedrale di Matera, a 13th-century Romanesque-Apulian cathedral with a 52-meter bell tower. Inside, you will find a 16th-century fresco of the Madonna della Bruna (the city’s patron saint) and a Byzantine-style icon. The cathedral is free to enter and open 9 AM to 7 PM (until 6 PM in winter). The views from the cathedral terrace across both Sassi are the best in the city, especially at sunset. Check Matera neighborhoods for more detail.
Things to Do in Matera: Rock Churches and Cave Sites
Chiesa di Santa Maria di Idris
Perched on a rocky outcrop at the top of Sasso Caveoso, this 15th-century rock church is the most photographed landmark in Matera. The interior is carved directly into the limestone and contains 14th to 17th-century frescoes, including a striking Madonna and Child. The church connects to the adjacent San Giovanni in Monterrone via an internal passage. Entry is included in the Sassi combined ticket (5 EUR), which also covers Santa Lucia alle Malve and San Pietro Barisano. Open 10 AM to 6 PM daily; closed Monday mornings. The climb up involves about 80 stone steps, so wear sturdy shoes. Check the where to stay in Matera guide for more detail.
Cripta del Peccato Originale (Crypt of Original Sin)
Known as the “Sistine Chapel of rupestrian art,” this 9th-century cave church sits about 7 km south of Matera in a rural limestone quarry. Its walls are covered in well-preserved Benedictine frescoes depicting biblical scenes. The name comes from a fresco of Adam and Eve. Visits are by guided tour only (12 EUR, book at least 2 days ahead at criptadelpeccatooriginale.it). Tours run at set times (typically 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, 4 PM, and 5 PM) and last 45 minutes. You will need a car or taxi to reach it. Expect to pay about 25 EUR each way by taxi from the city center. Check Matera travel tips and FAQ for more detail.
Palombaro Lungo
This massive underground cistern beneath Piazza Vittorio Veneto was built in the 16th century and expanded in the 19th. It held up to 5 million liters of water for the city and is the largest of the underground water systems in Matera. You walk on metal walkways suspended above the water, with dramatic lighting showing the carved rock pillars. Entry is 3 EUR (combined ticket with Casa Noha for 5 EUR). Open daily 10 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 7 PM. The temperature inside is a constant 15°C (59°F) year-round, a welcome escape on hot summer days.
Things to Do in Matera: Museums and Culture
MUSMA, Museo della Scultura Contemporanea
The only cave-carved contemporary sculpture museum in Italy occupies the 16th-century Palazzo Pomarici and its underground chambers. The collection features works by Italian and international sculptors displayed within the natural limestone architecture. The contrast between modern art and ancient stone is the whole point. Admission is 7.50 EUR (5 EUR reduced). Open Tuesday to Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM (until 8 PM in summer). Allow 90 minutes. The museum shop sells excellent art books on Matera.
Casa Noha
A 25-minute multimedia installation inside a 16th-century noble house that tells the story of the Sassi, from prehistoric settlement to the forced relocation of residents in the 1950s to the UNESCO listing and revival. It is the best introduction to the complex history of Matera before you explore the streets. Entry is 3 EUR (combined ticket with Palombaro Lungo for 5 EUR). Open daily 10 AM to 6 PM. The film is in Italian with English subtitles.
Things to Do in Matera: Outdoor Activities
Parco della Murgia Materana
The regional park opposite the Sassi, across the Gravina River gorge, offers the iconic panoramic view of Matera that appears on postcards. The park contains over 150 rock churches scattered across the plateau, prehistoric cave settlements, and hiking trails ranging from 2 km to 15 km. The Belvedere viewpoint (1 km from the parking area at Jazzo Gattini) gives the classic Sassi skyline shot, best at sunset. Entry to the park is free; parking at Jazzo Gattini costs 2 EUR. Bring water and sun protection. There is no shade on the plateau. The trail down to the Gravina River and up to the Sassi (about 4 km, 200m elevation change) takes 2 to 3 hours one way.
Castello Tramontano
This unfinished 16th-century Aragonese castle sits on a hill at the edge of the modern city. Only the central keep and two of three planned towers were completed. The castle grounds are open to visitors and offer a different perspective of the city looking back toward the Sassi. Free entry; the grounds are open during daylight hours. Note that the interior is not accessible. This is an exterior visit only.
