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One day in Matera, Italy, is all it takes to fall in love with this wildly unique and historic cave city—and this guide will help you make the most of it!
After visiting Italy more times than I can remember, I finally checked a big item off the bucket list; our first Puglia road trip—and I say first, since I loved it so much I’m already planning the second one.
During the planning process, my fiancé mentioned adding Matera to the itinerary—to be honest, I didn’t know much about it, but we added it anyway.
And I’m so happy we did, since it quickly became my absolute favorite stop on our trip.
So now I’m shouting from the rooftops to anyone who will listen that if Matera wasn’t on your bucket list, it should be!
While Matera is not in the geographical region of Puglia, it’s close enough that it’s easy to add an extra day to stop and explore this incredible destination.
Matera is known for its “sassi”, caves carved into a gorge where people lived for thousands of years, which give the city its unique, otherworldly look.
To help you experience the best of the city, from historic highlights to stunning viewpoints and the best places to eat, here’s how to make the most of your one day in Matera, Italy.
Where to Stay & Getting Around:
- Stay at Agli Archi Dimore Storiche: Highly recommend this hotel for its unmatched location, stunning views over the Sassi Caveoso, and the very attentive host—he sent us a step-by-step of where to park so we wouldn’t get fined. Breakfast is also included, which you can enjoy with a view of the caves.
- Driving in Matera: Speaking of fines, watch out for ZTL (Limited Traffic Zones) as it’s illegal to drive through them unless you are a resident of the area, or else you will be fined. To play it safe, look for parking houses outside the Sassi and walk into town.
One Day In Matera, Italy: How To Make The Most Of It
Understanding the Sassi of Matera
First and foremost, let’s get a quick overview of what Matera is and how it is divided.
Located in the southern region of Basilicata, neighboring Puglia, Matera is a city with a history dating back over 9,000 years, making it one of the most stable and ancient human settlements in the world(!)
The city is divided into two historic neighborhoods, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano.
Sasso translates to rock, as the city was built by carving into the rocky gorge, creating the cave dwellings that Matera is known for.
There’s a recorded history of people inhabiting these cave dwellings since the Paleolithic period up until—quite shockingly—the 1950s, when the locals were forced to move out into better-equipped homes.
There is so much fascinating history here, but don’t worry, if you follow this one-day Matera itinerary, you will learn all about it.
Start the day by visiting Casa Noha
To get a better understanding of the city and its rich history, the best thing to do to start your day in Matera is to visit Casa Noha.
Casa Noha is a historic house turned multimedia project, where visitors can learn more about Matera through a short and engaging presentation of the Sassi and its inhabitants throughout history.
While you wait for the next presentation to start, make sure to check out the interactive screens at the entrance, which showcase different walking routes you can take during your time in Matera to see different aspects of it.
Here you can also purchase some cute souvenirs like bookmarks with a print of the Matera houses piled on top of each other—I loved the print, it’s so cute!
- Casa Noha Hours: 10 am – 7 pm (Closed Wednesdays)
- Casa Noha Entrance Fee: €3
Wander through Matera’s winding alleys
After getting some context on the city and its famous caves, I would recommend taking some time to simply wander through Matera’s iconic winding alleys.
Matera’s unique aesthetic of houses piled upon houses on the rocky hills is something straight out of a movie.
Which makes it less shocking to learn that it has been used as the backdrop for many films, such as “The Passion of the Christ”, “Wonder Woman”, “No Time to Die”, and a few more.
Exploring the charming maze-like streets, lined with creamed colored houses carved out of the rock, truly makes you feel like you have been transported to another world, or at least another era.
And while wandering this stunning city is a treat, it’s also a bit of a workout, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes, and maybe have a water bottle in hand as you will encounter lots of stairs.
Visit the Cathedral and take in the views from Piazza del Duomo
Make your way to the Cathedral of Maria Santissima of Bruna & Sant’Eustachio, or more commonly referred to as Matera’s Cathedral.
From the outside, you can admire the Cathedral’s Apulian Romanesque architectural style, with a simple facade and central rose window.
Visiting the Matera Cathedral is free, so take the time to step inside to appreciate its stuccos, colorful frescoes, and sculptures that decorate it.
If you have been traveling around Europe for a bit and feel like all the churches are starting to blend together, Matera’s Cathedral—with its unique regional style—will definitely stand out.
The best part about exploring Matera is discovering many different viewpoints of the Sassi and its overlapping architecture, but one of my favorite views is the one you get from the Piazza Duomo.
So, on your way out of the Cathedral, make sure to stop at the viewpoint right in front of the Cathedral at Piazza del Duomo to take in the panoramic view over the Sassi.
Step inside Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario
While enjoying the unique look of Matera makes the whole trip worth it, I think it really complements the trip—even if only spending one day in Matera, or even more so—to learn more about the city and its cave houses.
And the best way to learn more about this is to visit one of the many “Casas” open to visitors to explore, and our guide recommended Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario as the top one to visit.
Casa Grota di Vico Solitario (or Casa Grotta nei Sassi di Matera on maps) is a cave house that has been set up with authentic furniture and tools to show exactly how people used to live in the caves, together with their animals, inside, just a few steps from the bed…
There is honestly so much detailed information thrown at you while visiting this casa that it is a no-brainer to pay the €5 fee to step inside and witness one of these historic cave homes.
I highly recommend not skipping the video documentary that you get to see at the end of the visit, as it is jam-packed with information on the region, the civilization, and its history.
And it’s just so incredibly fascinating!
- Casa Grota di Vico Solitario Hours: Every day from 9 am – 6 pm, mostly, with some variations depending on the season. For more info, check the official Casa Grota di Vico Solitario website.
- Casa Grota di Vico Solitario Fee: €5
Grab lunch at Piu Sud Pizza restaurant
After having your mind blown away by that house and soaking up all that fascinating information about Matera, is time for lunch to fuel your next steps.
So head over to Piu Sud Pizzeria for one of the best pizzas in Matera, conveniently located in the heart of the Sassi Caveoso.
We showed up one time without a reservation, even though they were mostly empty, and got turned away, not sure why, so just to make sure, book a table in advance.
The pizza is delicious, the location is beautiful, a modern and sleek restaurant set inside an old cave, the perfect mix of old and new.
So enjoy a margherita, my favorite, or whatever your heart desires, and you should be ready to keep exploring.
Hike across the Gravina gorge to the Belvedere for incredible views of Matera
While walking around the city and along the edge of the gorge, it’s impossible not to notice the stunning view below—a stream running through and the lush green hills across it, dotted with caves.
As soon as we saw this, we knew we had to get to that side of the gorge.
So if you are ready for a little hike, make your way down to Ponte Tibetano della Gravina, but not before having a quick look at the information and warnings at the starting point of the hike.
The hike across the gorge is considered a “moderately challenging route” by All Trails, and quite a dangerous one according to the signs on site.
This is due to the slippery nature of the trek and its steep hills, but we saw people of all ages hiking it, from parents with young children to older—but fit—people.
So, just be careful with the terrain and definitely wear appropriate footwear for this—sandals or anything without any grip is a no-go.
Anyway, once you make it across the bridge, you can slowly make your way up the hill to stop at a few of the caves along the way.
There is a church at the top of the hill, the Chiesa Rupestre di Madonna delle Tre Porte, which we didn’t make it to, as it would have taken too much time out of our day, and we wanted to keep going.
So if, like us, you want to have a quick look at that side of the gorge and keep moving, making it to the first 2-3 caves on the hill took us about 2 hours round trip.
Cool off with a gelato from Cremes Bureau
After hiking back up to the city, you will definitely be in need of a little pick-me-up, so make your way to Cremes Bureau for a refreshing gelato.
To me, nothing beats a good limone gelato on a warm day, but you do you.
Pick a little coppetta, or cone, and find a spot to sit and enjoy your treat around Piazza Vittorio Veneto, which leaves us closer to the next stop on our one-day itinerary in Matera.
Check out the Palombaro Lungo
Palombaro Lungo is a spot that was recommended to us by our host. To be honest, I was not fully sold on it… until we visited.
Basically, the Palombaro Lungo is an underground cistern that used to be the water reserve for the city.
Dating back to the 16th century, this fourteen-meter-deep and fifty-meter-long room takes up quite the space directly underneath the Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
Carved into the rock, this cistern looks something like an underground cathedral with its dramatic arches that make you forget that this space was only meant to collect water, and not be this pretty!
The visit to Palombaro Lungo is very quick, the entrance is very affordable, and you get a small flyer with some information about it, and it’s honestly quite interesting.
So I would definitely recommend trying to fit this quick stop into your one day in Matera.
- Palombaro Lungo Hours: Every day from 9:30 am-1:30 pm and then again from 3-7 pm
- Palombaro Lungo Fee: €3
End the perfect one day in Matera with dinner at Keiv Ristorante
To finish off the perfect one day in Matera, make sure to make a dinner reservation at Keiv Ristorante.
Even if you decide to eat anywhere else, you should assume that you will need a reservation, as the town is small and things book up fast.
We visited during the low season, and there were barely any people walking around town, and we still didn’t get to eat anywhere without a reservation. We had to book and came back to Keiv at 9:00 pm for dinner. So book ahead!
However, we were very happy to see that the wait was worth it, as the food is incredible, the service quite formal, but not rude.
We followed the waiters’ recommendations for dinner, and everything was delicious—the bruschetta, orecchiette, and tiramisu— and we even found a new favorite wine, the regional Primitivo di Manduria.
This place is a 10/10 for me, and the best spot to finish off your one day in Matera!
Final thoughts on one day in Matera
With its cream-colored winding alleys, unique landscapes, and incredibly interesting history, Matera is a destination that should undoubtedly have a place on your bucket list.
So if you are already planning a trip to southern Italy road trip, I would highly recommend fitting it into your itinerary, even if it’s just for one day.
While two or three days will give you more time to savor your stay, one day in Matera is enough to cover all the basics, and with the activities on this itinerary, you will truly get an understanding of this unique city, while still having enough time to wander at your own pace.
So, I hope this one-day itinerary helps you have the best day exploring this incredibly unique city, which I am now obsessed with.
Will you be adding Matera to your Puglia itinerary? Let us know in the comments.