One day in Matera is never quite enough — we know this well, because we see it every day in the eyes of our guests when it’s time for them to leave. But if you only have 24 hours available, here’s the itinerary we recommend to those staying with us, designed to experience the authentic heart of the city without wasting precious time.
Morning: Sasso Caveoso and the viewpoints
Start the day at Sasso Caveoso, Matera’s most picturesque district, with its houses carved into the calcarenite rock. From Piazzetta Pascoli you can enjoy one of the most photographed views in the city: from here the Gravina ravine opens up in all its breadth, with the Civita and the Cathedral in the background.
Visit the Church of Santa Maria de Idris, carved directly into the rock, and a Casa Grotta (cave house) to understand what life was like in the Sassi before the resettlement of the 1950s.
Midday: the Civita and the Cathedral
Climb up to the Civita, the hill that divides Sasso Caveoso from Sasso Barisano, where Matera Cathedral stands, built in the Apulian Romanesque style. From here, the alleyways wind down towards both districts, offering different views at every turn.
Afternoon: Sasso Barisano and the Murgia Park
Sasso Barisano has a different character to Caveoso: the houses are built above the caves, creating a more compact urban fabric. Here you’ll find some of the best-preserved rock churches and several hypogea open to visitors.
If time allows, cross the Gravina to reach the Parco della Murgia Materana: from the opposite side, the view over the Sassi is probably the most striking in all of Matera, especially at sunset.
Evening: a typical dinner and an evening stroll
Round off the day with a dinner of traditional Materan cuisine — orecchiette with turnip tops, crapiata, Matera IGP bread — and an evening stroll through the illuminated alleyways: the Sassi at night have a completely different atmosphere, quiet and almost suspended in time.
A tip from someone who lives in Matera
Many visitors make the mistake of following only the standard guides. If you’re staying at L’Antica Conceria, ask us directly for advice: we know the less-travelled routes, the right times to avoid the crowds, and the viewpoints that rarely appear in guidebooks.
Discover our rooms in the heart of the Sassi →
Want to experience Matera during a special event? Also read our article on the Festa della Bruna.
