13 Reasons To Visit Matera, One Of The Oldest And Most Unique Cities On Earth

Matera isn’t just a place—it’s a living time capsule etched into stone. Imagine walking through narrow alleyways where homes, churches, and even restaurants are carved straight into the cliffs. Every corner feels like stepping into a story that’s been unfolding for thousands of years.

Have you ever dined inside a cave once inhabited by families centuries ago? Or watched golden light spill across ancient stone as the sun sets over a city older than Rome itself? Matera gives you that chance.

Once overlooked and even abandoned, this southern Italian gem has transformed into a cultural beacon—without losing its raw, haunting beauty. If you’re looking for a destination that stirs the imagination and the soul, Matera might just be the most unforgettable place you’ve never thought to visit.

1. The Sassi Cave Dwellings – Living History You Can Touch

Walking through Matera’s Sassi districts feels like stepping back thousands of years. These cave dwellings, carved directly into rock faces, housed families for centuries until the 1950s.

You can actually enter many of these ancient homes today. The cool stone walls and ingenious water collection systems show how people adapted to harsh conditions with remarkable creativity.

Each cave tells a different story through its layout and preserved artifacts. Some caves connect through hidden tunnels, while others feature elaborate frescoes painted by long-ago residents who called these rocky chambers home.

2. UNESCO World Heritage Status – Recognition of Global Importance

UNESCO declared Matera a World Heritage Site in 1993, recognizing its extraordinary cultural value. This designation places Matera alongside other world treasures like the Great Wall of China and Machu Picchu.

The recognition came because Matera represents an outstanding example of human settlement adaptation. Archaeological evidence shows continuous habitation here since the Paleolithic period, making it incredibly significant for understanding human development.

Your visit contributes to preserving this irreplaceable heritage. The UNESCO status ensures careful conservation efforts while allowing visitors to experience authentic ancient living spaces that exist nowhere else on our planet.

3. Rock Churches with Byzantine Frescoes – Sacred Art in Stone

Over 150 rock churches hide throughout Matera’s landscape, each containing precious Byzantine frescoes. These sacred spaces were carved by monks between the 8th and 13th centuries who sought spiritual refuge in the rocky terrain.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria de Idris offers some of the best-preserved artwork. Vivid colors still shine on stone walls despite centuries of weathering, depicting biblical scenes with remarkable artistic skill.

Many churches feature unique architectural elements like natural stone altars and baptismal fonts carved directly from living rock. The acoustic properties of these spaces create an almost mystical atmosphere during your visit.

4. European Capital of Culture 2019 – Modern Renaissance

Matera’s selection as European Capital of Culture 2019 transformed this ancient city into a vibrant cultural hub. The year-long celebration brought international attention and significant investment in arts, infrastructure, and tourism facilities.

New museums, restaurants, and cultural venues opened throughout the city. The MUSMA contemporary art museum now showcases modern works within ancient cave settings, creating fascinating contrasts between old and new.

This cultural renaissance continues today with regular festivals, art exhibitions, and performances. Your visit supports local artists and businesses that emerged from this cultural awakening, ensuring Matera’s traditions continue evolving while honoring its ancient roots.

5. Unique Hotel Experiences in Cave Rooms

Sleeping in a cave might sound uncomfortable, but Matera’s cave hotels offer luxury experiences unlike anywhere else. These accommodations preserve original stone architecture while adding modern amenities like heating, plumbing, and comfortable furnishings.

The Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita provides the most authentic experience. Each room occupies a genuine ancient dwelling, complete with original stone floors and vaulted ceilings that maintain perfect temperatures year-round.

Waking up in a 1,000-year-old cave creates memories you’ll treasure forever. The thick stone walls provide natural soundproofing, ensuring peaceful sleep while connecting you directly to Matera’s incredible history through your accommodation choice.

6. Gravina Canyon – Dramatic Natural Setting

Matera sits dramatically on the edge of Gravina canyon, a deep limestone gorge that provided natural protection for ancient inhabitants. The canyon’s vertical walls rise over 200 meters, creating breathtaking views from the city’s edge.

Walking along the canyon rim reveals why early settlers chose this location. The natural fortress provided security while the canyon’s microclimate supported agriculture and water collection in an otherwise arid region.

Photography enthusiasts find endless opportunities here. Sunrise and sunset paint the canyon walls in golden hues, while the contrast between ancient architecture and raw natural beauty creates stunning compositions throughout the day.

7. Traditional Cuisine in Ancient Settings

Dining in Matera means enjoying traditional recipes in spaces where families cooked for centuries. Many restaurants occupy former cave dwellings, creating intimate atmospheres with stone walls and vaulted ceilings providing natural ambiance.

Local specialties include orecchiette pasta, lamb dishes, and focaccia bread baked in ancient wood-fired ovens. The region’s olive oil and wines complement every meal with flavors developed over generations of local cultivation.

Several establishments offer cooking classes where you learn traditional techniques passed down through families. The combination of authentic recipes, historic settings, and hands-on learning creates culinary experiences that connect you deeply with Matera’s living culture.

8. Film Location for Hollywood Movies

Hollywood discovered Matera’s cinematic potential, using its ancient architecture as a backdrop for major films. The city doubled as Jerusalem in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” and appeared in recent James Bond and Wonder Woman movies.

Directors choose Matera because its authentic ancient appearance requires minimal set construction. The stone buildings and narrow alleys provide ready-made historical settings that transport audiences to biblical times or ancient civilizations.

Film tourism brings additional excitement to your visit. You can recognize locations from famous movies while exploring, and local guides often share behind-the-scenes stories about productions that transformed quiet streets into bustling movie sets.

9. Ancient Water Management Systems

Matera’s survival in a semi-arid region depended on ingenious water management systems that still inspire engineers today. Ancient inhabitants carved cisterns, channels, and collection systems directly into the limestone bedrock.

The Palombaro Lungo, a massive underground cistern, stored water for the entire community. This cathedral-sized chamber, carved entirely by hand, demonstrates the sophisticated engineering skills of Matera’s early residents who planned for survival across generations.

You can tour several water systems that reveal how communities thrived in challenging environments through cooperation and innovation. These engineering marvels show human adaptability and the importance of sustainable resource management throughout history.

10. Panoramic Views from Belvedere Points

Multiple viewpoints around Matera offer spectacular panoramas that showcase the city’s unique geography and architecture. The most famous belvedere sits across Gravina canyon, providing postcard-perfect views of the entire Sassi districts.

Sunrise from these viewpoints creates magical moments as golden light gradually illuminates the stone buildings cascading down the hillside. The interplay of shadows and light reveals the complex layers of architecture built over millennia.

Professional photographers and casual visitors alike find these viewpoints irresistible. The changing light throughout the day transforms the same view repeatedly, ensuring that multiple visits reveal new details and perspectives of this extraordinary ancient cityscape.

11. Casa Grotta – Authentic Cave Life Recreation

Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario recreates authentic cave dwelling life as it existed until the 1950s. This museum preserves original furnishings, tools, and living arrangements that show how entire families shared single cave rooms with their livestock.

The realistic displays include sleeping areas, cooking spaces, and storage solutions that families developed to maximize limited space. You’ll see how residents dealt with challenges like humidity, ventilation, and privacy in these unique living conditions.

Visiting Casa Grotta provides essential context for understanding Matera’s transformation from impoverished cave community to UNESCO treasure. The exhibits honor the resilience of families who created rich lives despite difficult circumstances in these ancient dwellings.

12. Artisan Workshops in Historic Spaces

Local artisans continue traditional crafts in workshops housed within historic cave spaces throughout Matera. These craftspeople maintain skills passed down through generations while adapting ancient techniques for contemporary markets.

You can watch potters shape clay using methods unchanged for centuries, or observe weavers creating textiles on traditional looms. Many workshops welcome visitors to try their hand at these time-honored crafts under expert guidance.

Purchasing directly from these artisans supports local culture while providing authentic souvenirs created in the same spaces where similar work happened for generations. The connection between place, tradition, and creativity makes these workshops special destinations within your Matera exploration.

13. The Story of Redemption – From Shame to Pride

Matera’s modern story represents one of history’s most remarkable urban transformations. In the 1950s, the government forcibly relocated cave residents to new housing, considering the Sassi a national embarrassment representing Italy’s poverty and backwardness.

Decades of abandonment followed before visionary leaders recognized Matera’s cultural value. Careful restoration projects began in the 1980s, transforming forgotten cave dwellings into celebrated heritage sites that attract visitors from around the world.

Your visit celebrates this redemption story that shows how communities can reclaim their heritage and transform perceived weaknesses into sources of pride. Matera proves that with vision and commitment, even the most challenging situations can become opportunities for renewal.