Nestled in a small canyon carved by the Gravina River, this town was inhabited for thousands of years since the Palaeolithic times. In the prehistoric times, the local population started to settle in dwellings in the calcareous rock of the canyon itself that today are known as 'sassi'. Due to the extreme poverty conditions in the '50s, the government had to relocate most of its population to new housing in the modern part of the city. Thanks to a change in culture and in local administrators, the 'Sassi's' saw a renaissance in the early 90's and are now being promoted as touristic attractions. Over the last two decades, many economic activities have populated these dwellings: restaurants, pubs, shops, bed and breakfasts and luxury hotels. Today Matera is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today it is a must-stop for many tourists who travel across Southern Italy, especially after a stay in Apulia or Calabria.
pierluigi
Popular Trip Moments
This Beautiful and Ancient Lost City | The Place Where 007 Met His End | Matera: The Intentionally Forgotten Cave Houses | Ancient City of Matera, the Gray Ashen City | To passing visitors | The Painting on the Wooden Ceiling | A church built inside a cave | A small chapel built inside a cave | 5-Day Italy Itinerary: A Super Detailed Guide | 12-Day European Tour: Picturesque Landscapes | A 15-Day Multi-Country European Tour: The Perfect Choice for Your Short Holiday | Check out the Sassi Cave Dwellings Map | Old residence turned into a museum | Hidden Treasures of Matera | In a cave that is usually difficult to access | Until the 1950s, there were no actual residents. | The natural look | As soon as you enter Matera Cathedral | Matera's living, breathing old town | A place where locals come to shop | A cave dwelling where no one lives anymore | Before entering the cathedral | Works by Alberto Viani | Cathedral of Maria Santissima of the Bruna & Sant'Eustachio | Matera, designated as a World Cultural Heritage Site | As I walked down | In Piazza Vittorio Veneto | Central Matera | MUSMA - Museum of Contemporary Sculpture | Sassi built in a cave | A truly unique city carved out of a mountain
Popular Travel Types
Popular Destinations
Boracay Island Travel | Suzhou Travel | Melbourne Travel | Goa Travel | Hangzhou Travel | Chennai Travel | Krabi Travel | Urumqi Travel | Ha Long Bay Travel | Shaolin Temple Travel | Auckland Travel | Thailand Travel | Port Fairy Travel | Brisbane Travel | Kobe Travel | Belgrade Travel | Baler Travel | Labuan Bajo Travel | Qinhuangdao Travel | Zhongshan Travel | Baoshan Travel | Pickering Travel | Ballymena Travel | Sosua Travel | Bikaner Travel | Cynwyl Elfed Travel | Zigui Travel | Nordwestmecklenburg Travel | Bristol Travel | Puerto Madryn Travel
Recommended Attractions at Popular Destinations
Bangkok attraction near me | Manila attraction near me | Tokyo attraction near me | Taipei attraction near me | Hong Kong attraction near me | Seoul attraction near me | Kuala Lumpur attraction near me | Los Angeles attraction near me | Shanghai attraction near me | New York attraction near me | Shenzhen attraction near me | Osaka attraction near me | Singapore attraction near me | London attraction near me | Guangzhou attraction near me | San Francisco attraction near me | Beijing attraction near me | Macau attraction near me | Bali attraction near me | Jakarta attraction near me | Paris attraction near me | Ho Chi Minh City attraction near me | Istanbul attraction near me | Phuket attraction near me | Chicago attraction near me | Seattle attraction near me | Toronto attraction near me | Orlando attraction near me | Cebu attraction near me | Chiang Mai attraction near me
Popular Attractions
Yu Garden | Ocean Park Hong Kong | Universal Beijing Resort | Night Safari | Shanghai Tower | Sentosa | Tiger PARK Phuket | VinWonders Nha Trang | Shanghai Wild Animal Park | Bali Bird Park | SHIBUYA SKY | Three Gorges Museum | Dazu Rock Carving | Burj Khalifa | Balagezong Scenic Area | Fuji-Q Highland | Wuhou Shrine | Nusa Dua | Fußballplatz | Miami County Kansas Historical Society & Museum | Shinmachi Shiinoki Park | Sentiero per il monte due mani | Maruti Temple | KRONUM SDA CHURCH | Green Futures East Community Garden | Cortabbio (lc) | BMX Park | Centrol Cultural Museo Taurino | ArtVo | Universal Studios Singapore
Popular Restaurants in Matera
La Dispensa di Aquatio | il Pettolino | Più Sud | Vitantonio Lombardo Ristorante | Burro Salato Crepes Et Galettes | Osteria San Francesco | La Fedda Rossa | Regiacorte - Restaurant & Lounge Terrace | Tierra | Giu a Sud | I Sapori Senza Glutine | Annina 1937 | Peccati di Gola | Capatosta | San Biagio | Manga Sushi | Materia Prima Bistrot | Oi Mari | Il Cantuccio | Ristorante Bell'Agio | Le Bubbole | L'Arco Osteria Caffeteria | Osteria Belvedere Arrosto alla Brace | BOCCADORO 96 eat&drink | enoteca dai tosi | Don Matteo | Ego enoteca gourmet origini | Baccanti | Il Mare nei Sassi | Trattoria del Caveoso
Popular Ranked Lists
Top 6 Best Things to Do in Jincheng | Popular Best Things to Do in Longyou | Popular Luxury Hotels in Hamilton Island | Popular Premium Hotels in Three Gorges of the Yangtze River | Top 19 Local Restaurants in Beihai | Top 10 Local Restaurants in Dhaka | Popular Luxury Hotels in Grand Anse Praslin | Top 10 Local Restaurants in Nagasaki | Popular Premium Hotels in Pattani Province | Top 15 Best Things to Do in Ganzi Prefecture | Popular Premium Hotels in Mbabane | Popular Best Things to Do in Baiyin | Popular Premium Hotels in Valle de Bravo | Top 10 Local Restaurants in Cancun | Top 18 Local Restaurants in Dunhuang | Top 4 Best Things to Do in Nanping | Top 16 Local Restaurants in Ningde | Top 5 Best Things to Do in Danzhou | Top 10 Local Restaurants in Luxor | Top 3 Best Things to Do in Linxia Prefecture | Popular Premium Hotels in Cili | Popular Premium Hotels in State of Mexico | Popular Premium Hotels in Flinders | Top 4 Best Things to Do in Yingkou | Top 10 Local Restaurants in Naha | Top 10 Local Restaurants in Miami | Popular Luxury Hotels in Malargue | Popular Best Things to Do in Luoping | Popular Best Things to Do in Luanping | Top 9 Local Restaurants in Lushan Global Geopark
Payment Methods
Our Partners
Copyright © 2025 Trip.com Travel Singapore Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved
Site Operator: Trip.com Travel Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Site Operator: Trip.com Travel Singapore Pte. Ltd.