Location: Matera
Top Things to do in Matera
What to do and see in Matera, Basilicata: The Best Historic Sites
Get to Matera quickly, because it’s still relatively undiscovered by foreign tourists. In town, visit the Domenico Ridola National Museum. Matera’s real claim to fame, though, and the reason it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the extensive series of cave dwellings ("i sassi") southeast of town, first inhabited by Benedictine and Basilian monks. You’ll see individual cells, chapels, and even some churches, many adorned with Byzantine decorations and frescoes.
Restaurants in Matera
1. I Sassi di Matera
2. Mudesca.it
3. Parco delle Chiese Rupestri di Matera
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 410 reviews
According to the World Heritage site, "Matera's Sassi are the best surviving and most complete examples of rock-cut settlement in the Mediterranean region. They have been developed in close harmony with the natural environments."
Reviewed By HvPssptWilTrvl - Newton, United States
There can be no reason not to visit this park. We had a rental car but the site can be accessed by tour bus / van, taxi, Uber, etc. This is an "A No. One" attraction and rightly so. Difficult walking even in the best of conditions. Allow 2-4 hours on a nice day to roam around the trails, take scenic pictures of the city, the gorge, the caves and whatever else you fancy. Rain came out of nowhere. If you plan on a half-day or more visit check the forecast. Best time to visit is in the early morning dim of sunrise when the natural lighting is beyond fantastic. Unfortunately, at sunset the city is to the west of the park and is shrouded in a dull gray cast of dinginess until the automated lights come at dusk when Matera's buildings and piazzas glow in gold hues.
4. Santuario Santa Maria di Picciano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Casa di accoglienza per giornate di ritiro e spiritualità. Camere singole e doppie per un totale di 80 posti letto. Possibilità di campeggio autogestito, per 60 posti.
5. Cripta del Peccato Originale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,059 reviews
The Crypt of the Original Sin, in Matera, is located inside a natural cave on the Murgia plateau, near the old Appian Way. Commonly known as “the Sistine Chapel of rupestrian art”, the Crypt was discovered in 1963 by a group of local youths, who noticed the splendid frescoes in what at the time, had become a shelter for sheep herds.Experts later dated the cycle of paintings back to the second half of the 8th century, with Late-Romanesque style and formal elements of Oriental inspiration, such as the Byzantine-style Triarchsand the profile of the Virgin Mary, majestically represented in the sumptuous clothes of the Byzantine empress, the Basilissa.The anonymous, humble artist – who was soon nicknamed the “Flower Painter” – depicted biblical figures in total freedom: God the Creator, Light and Darkness, Adam and Eve, the three Apostles John, Peter and Andrew, the Archangels and Mary. The paintings on the rough walls of the cave are different and unique in Matera’s iconographic context. The scenes are the fruit of the painter’s personal creativity and certainly speak of his freedom in translating complex depictions, and of a lively spontaneity in drawing images. The Crypt of Original Sin may only be visited by booking.
Reviewed By ElenaY54 - Boston, United States
The Crypt of Original Sin is a very unique place . specific to the Matera region of Italy. - Dwellings, churches- all in the carved in caves that have been inhabited since prehistoric times, through Roman times, middle ages - to now. Not to be missed by travelers to Basilicata.
6. Antica Matera Casa Grotta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 256 reviews
Once upon a time...a typical house of the past that shows and illustrates with sculptures and furniture the life in Matera.
Reviewed By 862stefanb - Cologne, Germany
Fascinating views on very archaic structures of living with incredible ideas to transport water into the caverns, constructing different places with constant temperatures to concerve food and protect families and animals back in history ....
7. Casa grotta del Casalnuovo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 86 reviews
Reviewed By TheKoolKestrel - Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
There are now several of these restored caves open in Matera - hard to imagine that the others would be better than this, plus it has the bonus of a rock crypt. We paid 3 euros per person for both. They were brought alive by the English audio guide (transmitted into the cave rather than through headphones) - other languages also available - though this may not have worked so well if the venue had been busy (we were the only people, on a midweek early evening). The dwelling has four surprisingly spacious rooms, filled with artefacts that would have been used by the inhabitants, who only left in 1958. The rock crypt is simple and on three levels and has an interesting surprise at the bottom. Another advantage of this location is that it is currently in a less restored and touristed section of the sassi (though clearly being developed fast) and so more evocative we felt.
8. Casa Cisterna Sotterranea
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
An ancient house in the Sassi of Matera. There is inside an old cistern for collecting water. And also an ancient mill. This home is carved into the rock. And here lived people of Matera in troglodyte caves. The furnishings of the rooms are as they were in the past.
Reviewed By showmemo61 - Jefferson City, United States
This cave home was amazing for the fact that it has been preserved for future visitors to see the conditions that the people in the Sassi actually lived in. They lived in caves like this until the 1950's.
9. La Casa di Ortega
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By BrynH261 - Melbourne, Australia
This boutique Museum is one of the best I have experienced on my travels... ever! Preserved by the family of this Spanish artist who was in exile, and now overseen by an independant body, the small but incredible body of his works remain hanging in his house of 5 years. His relief works in terracota base with papiermache built up, sculptural layers are dynamic and colourful, powerfully portraying the Spanish torments of the time... knowing he was inspired by Matera to produce these artworks here is one thing... then seeing contemporary artists inspired by him making pieces and installations for this museum today is powerful. A rug, sculpture, leadlight windows, ceramic tiled ceilings in , what was the Dining and Bedrooms had my mouth wide open... the kitchen and bathroom renovations/installations are a sensory overload but so incredibly beautiful... textural, colourful and insightful. Even the terracotta light shades on the artwork spotlights impressed me. A beautiful charming attendant also gave a short but informative insight to the home and afterwards showed us onto the terrace with really wonderful views of the Matera gorge adjacent. Not what you would expect here but if you are into contemporary art, please pay a visit.
10. Piazza San Pietro Caveoso
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 165 reviews
Reviewed By 840gabrielh - Bellaire, United States
This piazza occupies the space in front of the Church of San Pietro Caveoso, on of the major historical attraction in Matera. From the square, you get an excellent and complete view of the facade of the church, as well as the rock to the right of the church that supports the church of Santa maria di IDris, higher up. You can als get a magnificent view of the Sassi from the piazza and, in the distance, of the Cathedral of Matera.
