In this article, we have created a useful guide about the 12 Things to Do in Matera Italy. The City of Stones, Unesco heritage and European Capital of Culture for 2019, leaves anyone who visits it stunned, arousing attention and attracting tourists (and cinemas) from all over the world. There are so many places to visit in Matera Italy during the day or a weekend. Natural areas, museums, rock churches, amazing landscapes. Matera has so much to offer. It is considered an open-air monument. Let’s explore the 12 Things to Do in Matera Italy.
The 12 Things to Do in Matera Italy
- Stones of Matera
- Vittorio Veneto Square
- Matera Cathedral
- The House-Cave of Vico Solitario
- Seat Square
- Rock Church of Santa Maria di Idris
- Miniature stones
- Casa Noha
- Murgia Park
- Tramontano Castle
- National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata
- Palombaro Lungo
1. Stones of Matera
Huge labyrinths of houses dug into the tuff, alleys, stairways, open spaces that reserve continuous (and beautiful) surprises. Visiting the Sassi of Matera is like taking a journey into the past, where everything has remained almost the same. The Sassi of Matera are ancient rock environments carved into the rock above the Gravina, inhabited since prehistoric times. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, The Sassi refer to the old part of Matera. They are divided into three areas: the Sasso Barisano to the north-west (so called because it faces Bari), the Sasso Caveoso to the south (whose name is due to the vast presence of caves) and the Civita which divides them in the centre. The latter is the oldest part, first inhabited by man, includes Piazza Duomo within it, and develops within what was once the perimeter of the city walls.
2. Vittorio Veneto Square Matera
Piazza Vittorio Veneto is generally the starting point of all tourist tours, it is the main square of Matera. From here you can immediately admire the Sassi from one of the most evocative viewpoints in the city. And if you are lucky, you will also be accompanied by the notes of a nice street pianist. In addition, without you realizing it, you will already be walking over one of the largest caves in Matera. In fact, you must know that the vault of this cavity is the same floor as Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Under the white paving there are three wonders of Matera: the Palombaro Lungo, MateraSum and the 19th Hole. These are impressive locations that I suggest you visit at the end of your walk in the Sassi. It is one of the most beautiful thing to see in Matera Italy.
3. Matera Cathedral
The Pontifical Basilica Cathedral of Maria Santissima della Bruna and Sant’Eustachio, known as the Cathedral of Matera, is one of the things to see, not to be missed. To get there you have to walk uphill, between narrow streets and stairways, but you know, in Matera it is the norm! Among other things, it is located on the highest part of the city, in the Civita district. As soon as I arrived, this huge cathedral stood out before me, allowing you to take a journey through art from the Middle Ages to the Baroque. In front of it stands the square from which you can admire a beautiful view of the Sasso Barisano.
4. The House-Cave of Vico Solitario
The Casa-Grotta di Vico Solitario is the perfect compendium of the lifestyle of the laborers and shepherds who lived in the Sassi. A single room, only partially excavated, inhabited by families of up to 10 people, plus naturally the mule and the chickens. The first served to reach the fields; the hens, on the other hand, to lay eggs which, together with legumes, guaranteed the right protein intake for a diet very poor in meat, at least compared to current standards. In the center was the table for eating, while to the side was the bed with a large mattress stuffed with corn.
5. Seat Square Matera
Continuing my walk among the Sassi, between narrow streets and breathtaking views, I arrived in Piazza Sedile. A small square surrounded by warehouses, taverns and shops, used in the fourteenth century. to host the market. In 1550 it was arranged to house the governor’s offices, the city prisons and the “sedile”, or the town hall.
The Palazzo del Sedile is the structure that dominates the square, with its large entrance arch surrounded by niches with statues. Two small rococo style towers contain one a sundial and the other a clock. Today the Sedile is the seat of the National Conservatory and, in the basement, an auditorium has been created which hosts musical reviews and prestigious concerts.
6. Rock Church of Santa Maria di Idris
At this point you will have noticed that in the center of the Sassi district (of Sasso Caveoso in reality) there is a huge rock. This small mountain is also easily recognizable by the iron cross that stands out on its top. Under that cross there is a stupendous rock church: it is the “Madonna dell’Idris”. This church is one of the most beautiful in Matera also thanks to the precious Byzantine frescoes it houses. Entering this very special church is a perfect start to gradually enter the beautiful depths of Matera. This is one of our suggested places to visit in Matera Italy.
7. Miniature stones Matera
In front of the Casa Grotta you cannot miss the Sassi in Miniatura, a work created by Eustachio Rizzi, a local craftsman. It’s worth a look, because you can see the whole city of Matera in one glance. The sculpture is made of tuff, weighs 35 quintals and took the artist three years to make. Inside the shop where the Sassi in Miniatura are located, there are many other tuff works that represent the places of interest in Matera.
8. Casa Noha
About 80 meters from the Cathedral, Casa Noha is a FAI property, and represents the perfect gateway to the city.
It is the ideal starting point for tourists who want to explore the Sassi of Matera, as well as one of the best examples of architecture carved into the tuff. It has perfectly restored rooms with vaulted ceilings, carvings and frames, and inside it is possible to take a multimedia journey to discover the history of the city, with interesting video projections on the walls and floors.
9. Murgia Park Matera
The Natural and Historical Archaeological Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera is a protected natural area of Basilicata where you can admire an incredible rock landscape included among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites together with the Sassi of Matera. Developed along the canyons dug by the Gravina di Matera and the Gravina di Picciano, both tributaries of the Bradano, the park is located on the opposite side of the Sassi of Matera and occupies approximately 8,000 hectares.
10. Tramontano Castle
Located on the Lapillo hill, it overlooks the historic center of the city of Matera. The castle was built starting from 1501 by Count Giovan Carlo Tramontano, feudal lord of Matera, and is in the Aragonese style with a central keep and two lower side towers. The aim was to defend the city along the most exposed side, but it remained incomplete due to the killing of the Count.
11. National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata
Inaugurated in 2003, it is one of the most recent museums in Matera. Located in the suggestive halls of Palazzo Lanfranchi, it is divided into four sections: The first section (Sacred Art) preserves paintings and sculptures from the Dioceses of Basilicata which allow us to know the history of art of the region from the Middle Ages to the 18th century.
12. Palombaro Lungo
It is a huge underground cistern located under Piazza Vittorio Veneto, inside which rain and spring waters flow from the hills of La Nera, Lapillo and Macamarda. Its creation dates back to the 19th century, while it was only rediscovered in 1991. With tuff walls covered with a special plaster that makes it waterproof, the cistern is part of a larger and more complex system that develops under the Sassi districts.