Matera Magic

Matera in the Basilicata region of Italy is one of the oldest cities in the world. Infact, it is considered as the third oldest city in the world after Jericho (in Palestine) and Aleppo (in Syria). If I have to sum up my experience of visiting Matera in a single word, then it was simply ‘Magical’. Matera is a UNESCO World heritage site known for its famous “sassi” or cave dwellings. Technically, "sassi" means stone and refers to the rock cut stone dwelling district in Matera.

Though quite popular nowadays, Matera is still not as crowded as other famous Italian destinations such as Rome or Milan. Note that it's also convenient to add Matera to your Puglia itinerary since its not very far from Bari. During our one week long trip to Puglia, we covered the following three places: 

• Matera

• Alberobello and

• Polignano a Mare

The blog links for the other two destinations is also provided at the end of this page.

1. Scratch the map

Matera, the city of caves is known to have presence of life since the Paleolithic Age i.e from around 9000 years ago. The old part of the city is carved out of the limestone cliffs where people used to live in cave dwellings till very recent times such as 1950s. Post that, the government forced people to move to the newer part of the city since the living conditions in the old town were very poor. Currently, the old town has mostly been converted to hotels for tourists so that they can be a part of the history of Matera for a short while. 

2. How to reach

Bari (BRI) is one of the main airports in Puglia region close to beach towns like Monopoli, Polignano a Mare and many more. Since we were mainly covering Matera, Polignano a Amare and Alberobello (all close to Bari), we chose to fly from Zurich to Bari ( journey time was around 2.5 hours).

3. Number of days

We spent 4 nights in Puglia (3 in Polignano and 1 in Alberobello) and combined it with 2 nights in Matera (which is part of the Basilicata region in Italy).

3. Tour Highlights

The UNESCO Heritage site of Matera is approximately 70 km from the Bari airport. Matera, known for its old cave dwellings, is the capital of the Province of Matera in southern Italy. The unique landscape of the city carved along the steep slopes of a ravine formed by the Gravina river is simply breathtaking. 

Matera is divided between two parts:  one is the Sassi (old town) while the other is the modern town. As you wander along the narrow winding streets in the old town, you will step into the magical past of this amazing city where time truly comes to a halt.

3.a  Matera viewpoints

Literally every nook and corner in Matera (in the old town) is beautiful and the cobbled roads will lead you to splendid views of the old city from different angles.

• View from Hotel Sassi: The entrance to Hotel Sassi (where we were staying) welcomes you with a fantastic view of the Duomo and sassis from a distance. 

• Belvedere dei Tre Archi: This scenic viewpoint in the main city square Piazza Vittorio Veneto also boasts of panoramic views of the Sassi district.

• Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli: From this viewpoint, one can see the other side (back) of the Matera Cathedral and the famous rock churche of St Idris.

3.b  Matera Cathedral (Duomo)

The Matera Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church and a famous landmark built on the highest point of the city with its bell tower perched above all the buildings. To the north of the Matera Cathedral lies the Sasso Barisano, while to the south is the Sasso Caveoso. In front of the Cathedral, is the Piazza Duomo which is a historic square with a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the valleys below. Inside the Cathedral, one can see beautiful paintings and elaborate nativity scenes.

3.c Palombaro Lungo

Palombaro Lungo is an underground cistern in the Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Also, known as the "Cathedral of Water", this is the largest cistern in Matera and was used for collecting rain water till possibly 1920 when the Apulian aqueduct installed public fountains for water supply in the city. Since then the cistern is unused, but is open for visitors after payment of a small fees.

4. Personal Recommendations

• Number of days: Consider spending atleast 2-3 nights in Matera to imbibe the magic of this city. If you don't have enough time, then atleast spend one night in Matera to view the city lit up at night. It's a completely different experience compared to how the city looks during the day.

• Pack light: Note that cars cannot go upto your hotels and the entire city of Matera is full of steps. You will have to carry your own luggage from the main square to your hotel. So remember to pack as much light as possible.

• Hotel stay: Consider staying in a cave hotel in the city of cave dwellings! We stayed at Hotel Sassi in the old town with a beautiful view of the Matera Cathedral and Sassi district in front. In terms of cost, it is reasonable and in terms of location, possibly one of the best! Also, the hotel is maximum 4-5 minutes walk from the city centre where taxis will drop you. So you will not need to carry your luggage for a long while.

• Guided walking tour: A walking tour is one of the best ways to learn about Matera's history and how it has evolved over ages. 

4. Goodbye Notes

If you are ready to be mesmerized by Matera, then also check my blogs on Polignano a Mare and Alberobello so that you can combine all the three destinations in a single trip! 

• Polignano a Mare 

• Alberobello