Featuring in many of the scenes from the final James Bond movie with Daniel Craig, 007: No Time to Die, Matera is becoming more and more popular among tourists who are looking to spend some time in this wonderful cave city.
Despite its location, Matera is actually much easier to visit than you think, especially if you are determined to go off the beaten path a little and explore Southern Italy and all this region has to offer.
Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to plan a great trip to Matera. Without further ado, here are the 10 best things to do in Matera for solo travelers.
- Matera Itinerary Map
- Where to Stay in Matera?
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10 Best Things to Do in Matera
- Check out the view from Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli
- See How Cave Dwellers Used To Live at Casa Grotta
- Visit the Cave Church of Saint Mary of Idris
- Check Out San Pietro Caveoso
- Learn the History of Matera at Casa Noha
- Visit Basilica Cattedrale di Matera
- Get Lost in Matera
- Explore Palombaro Lungo
- Drop By Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi
- Stay in a Cave Overnight
- More Matera Activities
- How to Get to Matera?
- Further Reading for Southern Italy
Matera Itinerary Map
10 Best Things to Do in Matera
1. Check out the view from Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli
One of the first things I highly recommend you do is to visit Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli, a terrace located in the Upper Town of Matera that offers an incredible view over the iconic Matera's cave cityscape.
Out of all the viewpoints in Matera, this one really gives you an amazing vantage point to see the true scale of the cave houses of Matera and how expansive it really is.
The viewpoint can easily be reached from the Upper Town, just a little south of the Piazza San Francesco, walkable in under 5 minutes. Be sure to be there early in the morning as the place can get quite crowded during the day.
- B&B La Casa Di Rosa (Budget)
- La Corte Dei Pastori Luxury (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Anima Pietra Luxury Suite (High-End)
- From Matera: Sassi di Matera Tour with Entry to Cave Houses (2 - 2.5 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- Matera: Sassi Tour with Entry to Rock Houses and Churches (2 hours)
- From Bari: Puglia and Matera Sightseeing Tour (1 day)
Also, with the morning light, you can really capture some really cool photos of Matera as the casting shadows create some depths to the pretty flat brownish-colored cityscape. It is definitely one of the best things to do in Matera, so be sure to check it out while you are in the Upper Town.
Where to Stay in Matera?
2. See How Cave Dwellers Used To Live at Casa Grotta
Not too far from Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli, as you make your way down to the lower town, you will find Casa Grotta nei Sassi di Matera, a small museum dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the traditional Casa Grotta style of dwelling.
This type of dwelling is commonly found in this part of Italy. It is a cave-like structure that is dug into the side of a hill and had been used as a home or shelter by the people here for centuries. Casa Grottas were often used by rural families who needed a low-cost, easily accessible home and were constructed using locally available materials such as stone and clay.
The museum showcases the history, architecture, and lifestyle of the people who lived in these cave-like homes and offers visitors a chance to learn about this unique aspect of Sicilian culture and heritage. If you are interested in how they live here, be sure to check out Casa Grotta. The museum is open from 9:30 AM to 6 PM every day and the entrance fee is 5 EUR per person.
3. Visit the Cave Church of Saint Mary of Idris
As you continue to explore the Lower Town of Matera, you will stumble upon the Church of Saint Mary of Idris, one of the most iconic churches in Matera located on top of a rock overlooking the cave city.
This incredibly unique church is a Catholic church built on a rocky hilltop and it features a crypt where you will find incredibly preserved frescoes.
The view from the cave church alone makes it worth the sweat to climb to it as you will be able to see the Upper Town in its entirety as well as all the cave houses below.
The church is open from 10 AM to 7 PM every day and the entrance fee is 4 EUR per person. You can also buy a combination ticket which will allow you to visit all 3 churches in the area (Chiesa di Santa Lucia alle Malve, Saint Mary of Idris (this one), and San Pietro Caveoso), all for 8 EUR per person.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
Looking to save some costs on your travel? Why not join a shared group tour from Bari? Here are some activities you might be interested in:
4. Check Out San Pietro Caveoso
Located just north of the Church of Saint Mary of Idris, you will find San Pietro Caveoso, another important church in the city that dated all the way back to the 13th Century, known for its beautiful Baroque-style facade and the frescoes on the ceiling.
The highlight of visiting the church for me was to see the incredible frescoes on its wooden ceiling, which is in fact a false ceiling, hiding an 18th Century old original ceiling. The frescoes on the ceiling are some of the prettiest paintings I've seen on wooden planks, so be sure to check them out while you are here.
The church is open from 8 AM to 12 PM in the morning and again from 4:30 PM to 8 PM in the evening so be sure to plan your visit carefully. The church is free to visit.
5. Learn the History of Matera at Casa Noha
If you want to learn more about the history of Matera and how the cave dwellings came to be, I highly recommend you check out Casa Noha, a small museum dedicated to preserving the history of the Sassi and Matera.
The museum is housed in one of the oldest and most well-preserved buildings in the area and is thought to date back to the early 1600s. The building features the traditional cave-dwelling architecture you can come to expect from Matera, with multiple rooms carved into the rock itself.
At Casa Noha, you will have the opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of the Sassi of Matera while learning more about what life was like then, why the people here were evacuated, and how the city turned the Sassi upside down into a tourist attraction we all love today. The museum is open from 10 AM to 7 PM every day except on Wednesday and the ticket should cost about 5 EUR per person. You can buy the ticket online here.
6. Visit Basilica Cattedrale di Matera
Basilica Cattedrale di Matera is one of the most prominent cathedrals in Matera and you should be able to see its iconic bell tower, hovering over you throughout the town as you explore the Sassi.
The cathedral was built in the 13th century on the ridge that forms the highest point of the city of Matera and it is considered to be one of the greatest examples of the Apulian Romanesque architectural style unique to this region of Italy.
The interior of the cathedral is lavishly decorated with beautiful baroque decorations and ornaments, as well as beautiful artworks all across its walls and the ceiling with incredible details still intact.
It is one of the most lavishly decorated structures in Matera and although I prefer the cave and stone features of other churches more, the place is still a great place to drop by as you explore Matera. The church is open from 9 AM to 6 PM every day and the entrance fee is 3.5 EUR per person.
7. Get Lost in Matera
Before we leave the Lower Town, be sure to spend some time and explore all the wonderful corners of the Sassi of Matera as there are some little pockets of hidden gems here and there waiting for you to discover.
The streets in Matera here are like a maze and it can be quite disorienting at first, especially when you are down in the Lower Town but that is what makes it so fun to explore Matera. No matter where you look, you will find something beautiful about it.
Be sure to spend some time here and get lost in the moment. If you are looking for a place to rest and enjoy a nice coffee in the Lower Town, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants along Via Bruno Buozzi street so don't forget to drop by there as you explore the Lower Town.
8. Explore Palombaro Lungo
After visiting all the highlights of Matera's Lower Town, it is time to explore the Upper Town as well. Some of the coolest places in the Upper Town are in fact not in the Upper Town, but under it. Palombaro Lungo and Ipogeo MateraSum are tourist attractions that will take you underground and see the ancient cistern as well as explore the network of tunnels under Matera underground city respectively.
Palombaro Lungo is a large underground chamber that was used as a cistern to store water for the residents of the Sassi. It was constructed in the 19th Century and is an impressive example of ancient engineering, with a complex system of channels, drains, and reservoirs used to collect, store and distribute water.
The place is open from 10 AM to 12:30 PM and again from 3 PM to 5:30 PM every day and the entrance fee is 3 EUR per person. Each group can only spend around 15 minutes in the cistern before the next group enters and so if the capacity is reached, you might have to wait in line a little before you can get in.
Ipogeo MateraSum is an ancient hypogeum or underground tomb, that dates back to the Roman period. The site includes a series of underground chambers and passages and is thought to have been used for burials and as a place of worship.
You can explore the tunnels with an audio guide or an English-speaking tour guide but you will have to book a time slot on their official website. The ticket costs around 7 EUR per person including an audio guide and the opening time is from 10 AM to 1 PM and again from 3 PM to 6 PM every day. If you go with a guided tour, it will cost you around 10 EUR per person only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays at 11:15 AM and 4:15 PM. You can reserve the guided tour here.
9. Drop By Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi
While you explore the Upper Town, be sure to drop by Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi, another important church in Matera, and check out its beautiful Baroque-style facade as well as the surrounding Piazza San Francesco Square.
Once you are inside, you will find a single nave with walls covered in beautiful ornaments as well as paintings and artworks leading you to the altar. It is a simple but beautiful take on the church's interior and a great change from all the lavishly decorated churches in Italy.
The best part is that the entrance is free for the public. The church is open from 8 AM to 12 PM and again from 4:30 PM to 8 PM every day.
Around the square in front of the church, you will also find plenty of cafes and restaurants and so if you are looking for a nice place to relax and hide from the blazing heat of Summer Italy, this is a great place to be.
10. Stay in a Cave Overnight
Last but not least, if you are looking for an incredible and unique experience in Matera, you can also stay in a cave hotel overnight here and see the beautiful cave city at night which is one of the best times to experience Matera.
If you think Matera during the day is awesome, wait until you see it at night which is like being transported into a different world and time. From the candle-lit tables of restaurants to the cave cityscape being faintly illuminated by artificial lights, there is no place more romantic than here.
If you are looking for some suggestions on where to stay in a cave overnight in Matera, below are some of the best Cave Hotels you might be interested in. It's pricey but it is well worth it if you can afford it:
- Anima Pietra Luxury Suite
- Le Malve Cave Retreat
- Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita
- Palazzotto Residence & Winery
- Corte San Pietro
How to Get to Matera?
The easiest way to get to Matera from abroad is to fly to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO). To find a cheap flight to Rome, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
From Rome Airport, you will then have to get to Rome Termini via train which should take about 30 minutes and cost 14 EUR. Once you are at Rome Termini, you will have to catch another train to Bari. This leg will take around 4 hours and costs about 60 EUR. You can book the train here.
From Bari, you can either use it as a base and visit Matera as a day trip or you can spend overnight in Matera. To get from Bari to Matera, you will have to catch the bus from Bari Bus Stop in front of DEA Cafe and it should take about 1 hour and cost around 10 EUR. You can book the bus ticket from here.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Southern Italy
I hope you found this Italy travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Italy, here is a selection of articles you might like:
- First time visiting Italy? Here are the 15 Best Places to Visit in Italy.
- Want to see the highlights of Italy in 2 weeks? Be sure to check out our 2-Weeks Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
- Want to travel around Italy for one month, from the Dolomites in the north to Sicily in the south? You are going to love this backpacking itinerary packed with information: One Month Backpacking Italy Itinerary
- If you are looking for a great base to explore Puglia and Southern Italy, Bari is the best place to be. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Bari.
- Alberobello is a small town located in Southern Italy, famous for its unique Trulli, small conical-roofed stone houses that are unlike anything you've seen before. To travel here, be sure to check out this travel guide: 10 Best Things to Do in Alberobello.
- For a complete 7-day backpacking itinerary in Central Italy that will take you from Rome to Pompeii to the Amalfi Coast, be sure to check out: 7 Days Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
- Rome needs no introduction from me. From well-trodden attractions like the Colosseum to hidden gem spots like the Appian Way, here are the 20 Best Things to Do in Rome you shouldn't miss!
- Wondering what you can do in Rome in 3 days? Check out our 3-day Backpacking Rome Itinerary.
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Northern Italy? Check out: 2-Weeks Backpacking Northern Italy Itinerary.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- To see all the articles about Italy, visit the Italy Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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