Discovering Matera, Italy: The Ancient Cave City

Formerly the “shame of Italy”, this unique and ancient city has now become a top tourist destination and European capital of culture.

History of Matera, Italy

The city of Matera was first inhabited during the Paleolithic period (anywhere from 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 BC) and is the third oldest city in the world after Aleppo and Jericho. It was occupied by many different empires throughout the years, but now serves as the capital of the province of Matera.

In the 19th and 20th century however, Matera was full of poverty. Many families lived in the caves with no lighting or plumbing, and shared their living quarters with the animals. Infant mortality was high and malaria ran rampant throughout the city. Around 1953, the government started to take notice and moved many families to more modern buildings outside the city, where most Matera residents live today.

In 1993, Matera was declared a UNESCO world heritage site. In 2004, Mel Gibson’s Passion of Christ was filmed with Matera as the backdrop. The city continued growing and slowly residents moved back into the caves, creating restaurants and luxury hotels. Matera has grown so much that in 2019, it was declared a Capital of Culture by the EU.

How to get there

The closest city to Matera is Bari. Bari is easily reachable from Rome or Naples and there are several trains and buses going to Matera everyday except for holidays and on Sundays. You can check train times on the regional train website (there’s an option for English at the bottom of the page.)

What to see and do

Casa Noha

When entering the city, it’s best to stop first at the Casa Noha. This ancient house is the perfect starting point for exploring the city, and displays a video highlighting the history of the ‘sassi‘ or, the neighborhoods of Matera.

Explore the Sassi

The best way to see Matera is simply by exploring the ‘sassi.’ There are small little alleyways, many restaurants, and shops to explore. If you don’t like stairs though, Matera may not be the best city for you, since there are no other options.

Visit the churches

There are many churches to see in the city, such as San Pietro Barisano, Santa Lucia Alle Malve, Santa Maria de Idris, and San Giovanni.

Experience history in the Casa Grotta di Vico

This house was inhabited in the 1950s and has been remodeled and furnished to resemble how it might have looked back in those days. At the time, most households had about 6 members and kept their animals (pigs, mules, etc.) inside the house with them.

Get a great view at Belvedere di Mugia Timone

Outside of the city you can visit a park, called ‘Il Parco della Mugia‘, where you’ll find some greenery and a stunning view of the city.

La Cripta del Peccato Originale

Also outside the city you can find ‘La Cripta del Peccato Originale‘ or, ‘The Crypt of Original Sin’, where you can see ancient painted frescoes from the 8th century.

Palombaro Lungo

Underneath the ‘sassi‘, is the ancient reservoir that used to provide water for all the citizens of Matera. It is vast, interesting to see, and located right underneath the main piazza. Today there are several guided tours to see the structure.

Other things to do

Museum of Modern Art (MUSMA)

Day trip to the seaside at Taranto

Stay in a cave hotel

Have you ever been to this unique town?