In Matera you will spend lots of time in caves. You will sleep in a cave, eat in a cave, drink in a cave, and even view modern sculptures in a cave. The ancient neighborhoods, known as ‘Sassi’ are a series of grottos carved out of limestone, teetering on the edge of this giant ravine. It’s one of the most unique and spectacular places we’ve visited in Italy or really anywhere in the world.
Until the 1950s, Matera was a source of shame for Italy, a place of poverty, malaria and high rates of infant mortality, where people lived in caves without electricity, running water or sewage.
Matera is located in a remote corner of southern Italy in the small region Basilicata. Since it borders the region Puglia, it makes this ancient neighborhood a must-go for your Southern Italy travels! It’s not the easiest place to reach which is why it has managed to remain relatively unknown, especially to us! We found out about this place by booking our tour with Adagio Travel! Since it has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 visitor numbers are slowly growing and many of the caves have been transformed into stylish hotels and restaurants. But It definitely still has an undiscovered air and as we wandered the Sassi we couldn’t believe that Matera was not on everyone’s “must go” list. We rarely heard English voices, and only saw a couple of tour groups.
Bottom Line: This is a place you will want to book a guided walking tour for. It has lots of winding alley’s and streets. Since it’s so undiscovered it’s comforting to have someone to translate for you. Plan on spending the evening here as the whole area lights up at night and it is a stunning view to see.