Visiting Matera, in southern Italy, means exploring its Sassi: two districts of dwellings, cisterns and churches carved into the limestone, rising in tiers above a ravine, the Gravina. Inhabited since prehistoric times and evacuated in the 1950s as unfit for habitation, they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. What to see in Matera, how to get there from Bari and when to go based on official normals: here are the essentials.
A provincial capital in Basilicata, Matera stands at about 400 m (1,300 ft) above sea level, very close to the border with Puglia. Considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, it was European Capital of Culture in 2019. The historic centre is explored on foot, with plenty of steps.
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Matera at a glance
- Location Basilicata, southern Italy, on the edge of the Gravina ravine, near the border with Puglia
- Language Italian; currency: euro (€); time zone: UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer (1 hour ahead of London, 6 hours ahead of New York most of the year)
- Access no airport and no station on the national RFI network; Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (FAL) regional train from Bari
- Entry Schengen area, no visa for up to 90 days for US and UK citizens (travel.state.gov, GOV.UK)
- Sights Sasso Barisano, Sasso Caveoso, the cathedral, rock churches, Palombaro Lungo, the Murgia Timone viewpoint
- Recommended stay 1 to 2 days
What to see in Matera: the must-sees
The Sassi: Barisano and Caveoso
The old town covers the sides of the ravine. On the central spur, the Civita holds the cathedral; on either side, two natural amphitheatres slope down towards the Gravina. To the north, the Sasso Barisano, facing Bari, is the most restored, with built façades and carved houses side by side; to the south, the Sasso Caveoso, facing Montescaglioso, is the most cave-like and has most of the rock churches. The roof of one house often serves as the street for the level above. Access to the lanes is free; churches, cave houses and underground sites are visited separately.
The cathedral and the Civita
At the top of the Civita, the Romanesque cathedral dates from the 13th century. Its square offers one of the finest views over both Sassi. In the « upper » town (the Piano), the 18th-century Baroque church of Purgatory and the 13th-century church of St John the Baptist round off the walk.
The rock churches
The Sassi have more than a hundred churches carved into the rock, mostly in the Sasso Caveoso. In the 7th and 8th centuries, monks covered some walls with Byzantine-style frescoes, and the Benedictines took over from the 12th century. San Pietro Barisano is the largest rock church in the city. On the edge of the Caveoso, San Pietro Caveoso faces the ravine. Only a few churches are open to the public: check which ones before you go.
The Palombaro Lungo and the cisterns
Limestone does not hold rainwater: for centuries, the inhabitants collected it in cisterns. The largest, the Palombaro Lungo, lies beneath Piazza Vittorio Veneto, in the heart of the modern town; it was built in the 19th century. A visit shows how a city could survive on a plateau without a spring.
Cave houses and museums
Several furnished cave houses recreate life in the Sassi before the evacuation: until the mid-20th century, families and animals often shared a single room, without running water. In 1952, a law ordered the evacuation and rehousing of about 15,000 inhabitants in new districts; another law, in 1986, paved the way for restoration. As for museums, Palazzo Lanfranchi houses an art museum, the Ridola museum archaeological collections and MUSMA, set in caves, contemporary sculpture. Check opening hours and visiting conditions on the official websites.
The Murgia Materana park and the Murgia Timone viewpoint
Opposite the town, across the Gravina, the Murgia Materana regional park, created in 1990, protects the ravine and the plateau, with prehistoric caves and about 150 rock churches scattered across the slopes. The Murgia Timone viewpoint offers the best-known overall view of the Sassi. The trails are steep: walking shoes and water are essential, especially in summer.
Matera in 1 or 2 days: itinerary
| Time | Day 1: the Sassi | Day 2: underground and the Murgia |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Piazza Vittorio Veneto, viewpoints, down into the Sasso Barisano | Palombaro Lungo, then the Ridola museum or Palazzo Lanfranchi |
| Midday | The Civita and the cathedral | The Piano: churches of Purgatory and St John the Baptist |
| Afternoon | Sasso Caveoso, San Pietro Caveoso, a cave house, a rock church | Murgia Materana park |
| Evening | Stroll through the illuminated Sassi | Murgia Timone viewpoint or back via the Barisano |
When to go to Matera
In spring (April-May) and early autumn (September-October), when highs are between 17.4 and 25.6 °C (63 and 78 °F). July and August are the driest months, but also the hottest: over 31 °C (88 °F) in the afternoon on average, in shadeless stone lanes full of steps. Winter is cool: 10.3 °C (51 °F) in the afternoon and 2.6 °C (37 °F) at night in January; November and December are the wettest months.
Which station? No official World Meteorological Organization normals are published for Matera. We use the nearest official station: the Gioia del Colle air base (Aeronautica Militare), in Puglia, about 30 km (19 mi) as the crow flies north-east of Matera (Destination de Voyage calculation based on Wikipedia coordinates) and at a similar altitude (about 360 m, or 1,180 ft, compared with 400 m, or 1,300 ft, for Matera).
| Month | High °C (°F) | Low °C (°F) | Rain mm (in) | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.3 (51) | 2.6 (37) | 62.4 (2.5) | 7.6 | ❌ Cool, wet |
| February | 10.8 (51) | 2.5 (36) | 54.3 (2.1) | 7.6 | ⚠️ Cool |
| March | 13.8 (57) | 4.4 (40) | 67.0 (2.6) | 7.1 | ⚠️ Mild, changeable |
| April | 17.4 (63) | 7.0 (45) | 51.3 (2.0) | 6.7 | ✅ Mild, spring |
| May | 22.8 (73) | 11.0 (52) | 43.0 (1.7) | 5.5 | ✅ Ideal |
| June | 28.0 (82) | 15.5 (60) | 36.5 (1.4) | 4.1 | ✅ Hot, dry |
| July | 30.8 (87) | 18.0 (64) | 24.1 (0.9) | 2.8 | ⚠️ Very hot, the driest |
| August | 31.1 (88) | 18.3 (65) | 24.5 (1.0) | 2.6 | ⚠️ Very hot |
| September | 25.6 (78) | 14.7 (58) | 69.4 (2.7) | 5.9 | ✅ Ideal |
| October | 20.5 (69) | 11.2 (52) | 67.9 (2.7) | 7.0 | ✅ Mild |
| November | 15.4 (60) | 7.6 (46) | 81.3 (3.2) | 7.8 | ❌ The wettest |
| December | 11.3 (52) | 3.9 (39) | 72.0 (2.8) | 8.5 | ❌ Cool, wet |
The temperature benchmarks on our Italy page (12 °C, or 54 °F, in January, 32 °C, or 90 °F, in August) are those of Rome Ciampino (WMO 1991-2020 normals): Matera, on an inland plateau, has cooler winters and comparable summers.
How many rainy days on a 3-day trip?
Scaling the average number of days with precipitation in each month to a three-day stay, you can expect about 0.3 days of rain in August and 0.8 in December. In spring, the risk remains moderate (about 0.5 days in May). Destination de Voyage calculation based on the 1991-2020 normals for Gioia del Colle.
Do you need a sweater in the evening?
Yes, even in summer. The average gap between highs and lows exceeds 7 °C (13 °F) all year and reaches 12.8 °C (23 °F) in July: an afternoon at 30.8 °C (87 °F) is followed by a night at 18.0 °C (64 °F). In spring and autumn, evenings are cool. Destination de Voyage calculation based on the same normals.
| Month | Expected rainy days in 3 days | Day/night range |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0.7 | 7.7 °C (13.9 °F) |
| February | 0.8 | 8.3 °C (14.9 °F) |
| March | 0.7 | 9.4 °C (16.9 °F) |
| April | 0.7 | 10.4 °C (18.7 °F) |
| May | 0.5 | 11.8 °C (21.2 °F) |
| June | 0.4 | 12.5 °C (22.5 °F) |
| July | 0.3 | 12.8 °C (23.0 °F) |
| August | 0.3 | 12.8 °C (23.0 °F) |
| September | 0.6 | 10.9 °C (19.6 °F) |
| October | 0.7 | 9.3 °C (16.7 °F) |
| November | 0.8 | 7.8 °C (14.0 °F) |
| December | 0.8 | 7.4 °C (13.3 °F) |
To compare with the neighbouring region, see when to go to Puglia and when to go to Italy.
Getting to Matera
- By air: Matera has no airport. The nearest is Bari Karol Wojtyła airport; check current routes with the airlines.
- By train: Matera is one of the few Italian provincial capitals never served by the national rail network. The narrow-gauge Ferrovie Appulo Lucane line links Bari with Matera Sud station; timetables on the FAL website. The nearest RFI station, Ferrandina-Scalo Matera, is outside the town.
- By coach: coaches link Matera with towns in Puglia and Basilicata, and with Bari airport; check timetables with the operators.
- By car: convenient for combining Matera and Puglia. The Sassi are explored on foot: park outside the historic centre. The U.S. State Department notes that break-ins of rented vehicles are common: leave nothing visible.
- Getting around: walking and steps; a city bus network serves the modern town. Bari, the gateway, deserves a stop: see our Bari guide.
Where to stay
Staying in the Sassi, sometimes in a room carved into the rock, lets you see the old districts in peace, early in the morning and in the evening. But access is on foot, via steps: with large luggage or a car, the upper town (the Piano), around Piazza Vittorio Veneto, is easier. Compare offers and book early for weekends and summer.
If you… then…: choose your plan
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| only have one day | Sasso Barisano, the cathedral, Sasso Caveoso, a rock church and a cave house |
| want to understand the history | a cave house, the Palombaro Lungo, the Ridola museum |
| enjoy hiking | the Murgia Materana park and the Murgia Timone viewpoint, outside the hottest hours |
| are travelling in July or August | visits early in the morning and in the evening, a break in the hottest hours |
| are on a road trip in the south | combine with Puglia: Bari and Lecce |
| have difficulty walking | stay in the Piano and favour the viewpoints in the upper town |
Entry requirements, health and safety
- US citizens: Italy is in the Schengen area. You may enter for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa; your passport must be valid at least 3 months beyond your stay, and you need proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket (U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025).
- UK citizens: no visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as a tourist. Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive and be valid at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is being implemented: fingerprints and a photo may be taken at your first entry, free of charge (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 21 October 2026).
- ID: under Italian law, police can stop you at any time for an identity check: carry photo ID at all times (GOV.UK).
- Health: UK travellers can use a GHIC or EHIC for medically necessary state healthcare (GOV.UK); travel.state.gov advises being up to date on CDC-recommended vaccinations and recommends insurance that covers medical evacuation.
- Theft: crime levels are generally low, but bag-snatching and pickpocketing are more common in city centres, at major tourist attractions and on public transport (GOV.UK); the State Department notes that break-ins of rented vehicles are common, so never leave luggage in a parked car.
- Heat: the State Department notes that high temperatures are common in the south in summer: carry water and avoid the Murgia trails in the hottest hours.
- Emergencies: 112 (police), 118 (ambulance), 115 (fire), according to GOV.UK; the State Department gives 112 for all emergencies.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for visiting Matera?
One day is enough for both Sassi, the cathedral and one or two rock churches. Two days let you add the museums, the Palombaro Lungo and the Murgia Materana park.
When is the best time to visit Matera?
April-May and September-October. July and August are the driest months but also the hottest (over 31 °C, or 88 °F, in the afternoon), according to the 1991-2020 normals for Gioia del Colle, the nearest official station.
Is Matera in Puglia?
No: Matera is in Basilicata, but very close to the border with Puglia. It combines easily with Bari and the rest of the region.
How do you get to Matera without a car?
By the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane regional train from Bari, or by coach. Matera has neither an airport nor a station on the national network.
What are the Sassi of Matera?
The two old districts, Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, made up of houses, churches and cisterns carved into the limestone. Evacuated from 1952, they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
Our sources
- 1991-2020 normals for the Gioia del Colle station (air base, Aeronautica Militare), WMO station 16312, WMO 1991-2020 normals archive published by NOAA (NCEI), consulted 23 October 2026
- Wikipedia: « Matera » (French, English and Italian), « Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport » (English), consulted 23 October 2026
- Destination de Voyage calculations: rainy days on a 3-day stay, day/night range, Matera – Gioia del Colle distance
- Entry requirements, health and safety checked on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, Italy country information (last updated August 11, 2025) and UK FCDO, GOV.UK foreign travel advice for Italy (updated 21 October 2026)
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
To extend your trip, see our guides to Italy, Puglia and Naples, and our destinations in Europe.
