Why visit Matera? Well, Matera is unique as it is one of the few places to have entirely retained its authenticity. Since the prehistoric times, the inhabitants used caves, quarries, ravines of the rocks of the Murgia – soft and golden stone – to dig their homes. Houses and stables, churches and palaces have been built in the walls of the gullies and connected to each other by stairs, roads, alleys, ascents and descents. It’s a world that seems to grow in the stone and from the stone to expand into an exterior so unique that it has been selected as a location for about 20 movies – only to mention the latest: No time to die by James Bond. From sleeping in renovated caves, savouring a meal on a terrace overlooking the ancient landscapes and walking off-the-beaten-track to discover the heritage of Matera – these reasons alone are enough to book your trip to this destination. But in this guide we will give you a few more…
where to SLEEP
Moyseion
In the Sassi of Matera, Moyseion spans around 1,000 square metres, with reconstructed dwellings from three periods: Neolithic, Oenotrian and Magna Graecia. Communal areas include a Water Sanctuary dedicated to Demeter, while furnishings and objects are reproduced using experimental archaeology techniques. Contemporary amenities are not visible: systems and facilities remain out of sight.
The stay follows a sequence of rituals, from Xenia to the symposium and the morning meal, accompanied by music and dance. Breakfast draws on ancient recipes made with historically documented ingredients. Activities include music workshops and the making of instruments such as the aulos. Moyseion operates as an experiential space, where the stay unfolds through practices, gestures and rhythms drawn from other eras. WEBSITE
MASSERIA FONTANA DI VITE
In the Lucanian countryside, on a hill, the Masseria offers an endless view over golden wheat-covered hills, olive groves, and the city of Matera. An unfortified farmhouse, without city walls, it has panoramic terraces, large spaces set up as a garden, a swimming pool, a family chapel (no longer consecrated) where Austen Lee’s Artistic Installation ‘the flowers of the sky’ is a suspended ceiling. The courtyard is almost a village square, and in the interior, high vaulted ceilings and spaces follow one another fluidly: the reception, the bar, the room with fireplace, the restaurant. 7 rooms in the Masseria furnished with family antiques and 12 cool, cosy rooms in the ‘lamielle’, small houses with pinion roofs typical of the Basilicata region, built in the 19th century to house tobacco processors. For several years now, the Masseria has been chosen as a destination wedding venue by couples from all over the world: Australia, Canada, Lebanon, and throughout Europe. While the city of Matera is a draw, it is primarily the location itself that attracts, as its village-like setting is ideal for hosting various events in its many uniquely charming spots.
Thus, the wedding becomes a weekend-long event rather than just a single evening, transforming this historic residence into the site of a unique celebration with warm and authentic atmospheres. Each wedding is a tailor-made experience for the couple, an emotion evoked by the palette of seasonal flowers and the delicious fruits of Basilicata. Guests experience the village in its entirety, from breakfast until late at night, with additional events like focaccia parties, aperitifs in the wheat field, picnics in the olive grove, themed welcome dinners, and much more, definitively revolutionising the traditional and outdated concept of weddings in Italy. WEBSITE
alvino relais
Alvino Relais, just outside the historic centre, is a former mill from 1884 that has been converted into a hotel and spa. It features 21 rooms, suites, junior suites, a 240-square-meter penthouse with trussed ceilings, meeting rooms, exhibition spaces, reception halls, a restaurant, a 40-square-meter pool, a spa, gardens with ancient olive trees, restaurants, and a state-of-the-art bike room. The former industrial structure has undergone a restoration that has preserved the allure of a historic building with a unique character. To describe it, the use of hyperbole is permitted because the spaces here are expansive, vast, and articulated in rooms, halls, and courtyards that open outward with entire glass walls and skylights covering plazas. The limestone gleams and shines, contributing to a feeling of rarity. The interior design, like the entire restoration, bears the signature of architect Mocchetti: mirrors, statues, drapes, monumental chandeliers, and numerous details. Everything is sumptuous, dreamlike, suspended, and timeless, a mix where the Orient, Classicism, and Contemporary blend and integrate seamlessly. WEBSITE
Palazzo della Fontana Urban Hotel
Palazzo della Fontana is a contemporary, comfortable, central, and in a pedestrian zone hotel housed in an early 20th-century style completely renovated building. It has 10 deluxe rooms, 1 junior suite, and 1 suite, a small common room, a bright and welcoming breakfast room with outdoor tables, and a well-equipped rooftop garden that can be pleasantly enjoyed even in the autumn season. The name is inspired by the monumental Ferninadea Fountain located nearby. The decorative and original ‘cement tiles,’ the geometric patterned tiles recovered during the restoration and inserted like a carpet in the new flooring of the rooms, tell the story and memory of the building. Otherwise, the style is contemporary design, functional and linear. The colors are neutral, the environments are pleasant and restful, and the addition in each room of photos with beautiful views of the city and a small, colorful, and always different ‘cuckoo’ pyramid (in Matera, the cuckoo is a rooster-shaped whistle, a symbol of good luck, and its sound resembles the call of the cuckoo bird, hence ‘cucù’) brings guests closer to the art and artistic craftsmanship of the city of Matera. WEBSITE
PALAZZO DEL DUCA
Located in the ‘Civita’, the highest and most noble part of the Sassi di Matera, Palazzo del Duca lives again today as a hotel and preserves intact the charm and originality of a period house. It has four suites – two with a private heated swimming pool, one with a private terrace and one created in a cave – and five rooms including deluxe and junior suites. Each room is different, all pleasant and charming. The young owners have managed to personalise them gracefully, as have the common areas. The restaurant room is very special and evocative, with stone walls still preserving marine fossils, telling the story of Matera’s unique nature and history. The restaurant also has outdoor tables with an unforgettable view of the panorama. WEBSITE
CORTE SAN PIETRO
Fernando and Marisa Ponte, owners of Corte San Pietro, have created a small hotel full of harmony in Matera. In the Sassi district, some abandoned and disused houses dating back to the 1600s have been restored and reinvented by them and with the collaboration of Daniela Amoroso, an architect from Matera, to become Albergo Diffuso. Just 15 rooms that have grace and character. A courtyard that is the heart of the hotel, the place where it is pleasant to enjoy a break. 8 cisterns, evidence of the ancient daily life of the Sassi, reinterpreted both as artistic installations and as places for meditation and yoga. A breakfast room where every element is cared for, chosen, thought out. Taste and culture are the tools that guided the selection. A final welcoming detail: on the door of each room, a plaque with the name of the room, but also that of the guest occupying it at the time. WEBSITE
PALAZZO GATTINI
Facing the Cathedral, Palazzo Gattini, a historic residence that belonged from the 15th century until 1892 to the Conti Gattini, the oldest noble family in Matera, has been transformed into a 5-star L hotel with 20 rooms: 5 suites (one of which has a private pool), 3 junior suites, 12 deluxe rooms. The long and painstaking restoration that preserved the building’s historical-architectural value was entrusted to architect and interior designer Ettore Mocchetti, who chose ‘Mazzaro’, the Gravina stone with cream nuances in harmony with the limestone that dominates the Matera landscape, as the material. The style of the rooms is a contamination of past and contemporary, the result is emphasis and glamour, historical charm and luxury hospitality. Inside the hotel, the Le Bubbole restaurant with its unforgettable terrace offers cuisine that is both local and international. WEBSITE
what to see
Palazzo Lanfranchi
Palazzo Lanfranchi (17th century), which has housed the National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata since 2003, underwent a restoration in 2021 to renew and highlight its spaces and collections. The ground floor now features new rooms dedicated to the works of Carlo Levi (1902-1975) and Luigi Guerricchio (1932-1996), two masters of 20th-century art. Special emphasis is placed on Levi’s large panel painting, Lucania ’61, which has been rearranged for optimal viewing.
On the first floor, there are two main exhibition sections: Art of the Territory, showcasing a selection of sacred local artworks from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, and a distinguished collection of Neapolitan painting from the 17th and 18th centuries.
CHIESA DELLA MADONNA DELL’IDRIS
The 14th-15th century Church of Santa Maria De Idris stands at the top of the rocky spur of Montirone (or Monterrone), near San Pietro Caveoso. Its lucky position offers a unique panorama over the city and the Gravina.
CRIPTA DEL PECCATO ORIGINALE
The Crypt of Original Sin was the cultic site of a Benedictine rock monastery from the Longobard period. This space is famous for its curious and unique depiction of original sin: here a fig, instead of an apple, is the protagonist of the fatal mistake.
what to do
Matera boasts an incredible art scene from the Original Sin fresco to contemporary Art Collectives.
MIB
The MIB – Museo Immersivo della Bruna – located in the heart of the Sasso Barisano, is a multimedia journey into the patronal feast through legends, images, sounds, stories. In the MIB it is possible to walk through the Bruna Feast from the inside, enjoying its moments through captivating films, and thus entering into a magical harmony with Matera and its people. WEBSITE
MUSMA
The MUSMA is the only cave museum in the world and the most important Italian museum entirely dedicated to sculpture. It illustrates the history of Italian and international sculpture from the end of the 19th century to the present day with a rich body of works: sculptures, ceramics, medals, jewellery, drawings, graphic works and artists’ books.
WEBSITE
Palombaro Lungo
Beneath Piazza Vittorio Veneto lies the Palombaro Lungo, a vast underground cistern carved in stages from the 16th century. Reaching 16 meters in depth and 50 meters in length, it could hold up to five million liters of water. Its rock walls are sealed with cocciopesto, a waterproof plaster made from crushed terracotta. First explored in 1991, it is now open to visitors, who can walk above the water on suspended pathways and experience this example of early hydraulic engineering. WEBSITE
MUSEO RIDOLA
In the exhibition spaces of the Ridola museum you can find precious artefacts representing important archaeological evidence found in and around Matera. The museum houses the biggest fossil whale ever discovered, La Balena Giuliana, which was found in 2006 in the countryside. WEBSITE
MUSEO LANFRANCHI
Palazzo Lanfranchi In a beautiful seventeenth-century building, it is one of the two headquarters of the Museum of Medieval and Modern Art. Lucania ’61, an extraordinary painting in six panels by Carlo Levi, is exhibited on the ground floor. It is 18.52 meters long and 3.20 high, larger than Guernica, Picasso’s masterpiece. The work is a historical reportage of Basilicata, which portrays 153 real characters, including Rocco Scotellaro to whom it is dedicated. WEBSITE
MOOM
The MOOM, Matera Olive Oil Museum, is located in the Sassi di Matera, in Vico 1° Casalnuovo, and has been built in an ancient rock oil mill, demonstrating the historical functionality of the cave and its integration into the urban landscape. The oil mill is composed of several rooms, each one dedicated to a particular phase of the oil production process, which guide the visitor through an immersive artisanal experience. WEBSITE
VICINATO A POZZO
For centuries, the Vicinato al Pozzo was a social and networking space that encapsulated the life of an entire urban grouping in its courtyard. It was a kind of small square, a common gathering point for the life that took place between the dwellings of the Sassi. It was a site for meeting, talking, chatting and gossiping; and today it is a legacy that bears witness to an ancient way of life. WEBSITE
CASA DI ORTEGA
The Casa di Ortega project, realised by the Fondazione Zètema in Matera, was conceived with the dual intent of documenting the presence in Matera of the great Spanish artist Josè Ortega and of promoting the rediscovery and appreciation of the local craft tradition. The exhibition areas host the impressive works realised by Ortega in the 1970s, during his stay in Matera. WEBSITE
CASA NOHA
History enthusiasts will love Casa Noha, a space dedicated to testimonies, with videos telling the story of Matera, starting with Lucania 61, and explaining well the transition between 1952, the Sassi depopulation law, 1986, the redevelopment law. WESITE
TAM
The TAM – Tower Art Museum is a contemporary art museum located in the centre of Matera, inside an imposing medieval tower. Its exhibition spaces, divided between the central Via Ridola and the Capone Tower (XII), host national and international artists who are called upon to produce temporary exhibitions. WEBSITE
THE ULTIMATE VIEWPOINT
BELVEDERE DI MURGIA TIMONE
In the heart of the Parco della Murgia Materana, the Belvedere is a very exciting panoramic point from which it is possible to enjoy a complete and extremely suggestive view of the Sassi di Matera. A position that allows you to appreciate all the elements that distinguish the area: you can devote yourself to admiring and contemplating the landscape, you can decide to visit the nearby rock churches, or you can venture out to search for and discover the entrenched Neolithic village of Murgia Timone.
shop
ELISA&JANNA
The Elisa&Janna project was born from the encounter between a goldsmith artist and a gemmologist. The two brilliant creative minds work by combining reused metals and semi-precious stones. Their deep sense of respect for nature leads them to create refined jewellery inspired by the Sassi of Matera, but also pomegranates and small olives. WEBSITE
MASSIMO CASIELLO
The bread stamp is one of the symbols of the pastoral art of the Matera Murgia. Until the 1950s, housewives used to knead bread at home and deliver it to the bakers’ boys for baking, not before stamping each loaf to distinguish it from those of other families. Today, artisan xy still works to produce this small, finished object that speaks of tradition. WEBSITE
GEPPETTO
Geppetto, located in the central Piazza del Sedile at the foot of Matera Cathedral, is a craft workshop. It is a place of elaboration, production and sale of cuccù, the famous terracotta whistles widespread in the Murgia area, but also of other valuable pieces such as plates and small sculptures. WEBSITE
EUFEMISMI
Eufemismi is the name of Eufemia Caserta’s craft workshop in the historical centre of Matera. In this small workshop, Eufemia pursues her aesthetic research through the use of materials such as bolts and washers, nets and hydraulic pipes, ropes and hooks, leftovers and scraps from textile companies, ‘poor’ materials that in her hands become precious contemporary ornaments to be worn daily or used as original ornaments in one’s home. WEBSITE
where to EAT
Basilicata is made up of such varied landscapes that they could be the compendium of Italian geography and this is expressed in an infinite variety of gastronomic products. As well as an array of vegetables, legumes, fruits and cheeses one of the most renowned products from the territory is bread. The symbol of Matera, which perfectly sums up the products that Basilicata offers: from the purity of spring water to the quality of Lucanian wheat up to the ancient cooking methods that creates a crunchy crust leaving the inside soft and fluffy. Where should you go in Matera to discover the best regional delicacies?
RESTAURANTS
Le Alcove, Palazzo del Duca
Le Alcove is what you would expect a Matera restaurant to look like: romantic, cosy and nestled in a historic cave. But there is always the small details that set this place apart such as the taralli, locally sourced and meticulously scouted out by Rossana, owner of Palazzo del Duca. The menu is another: an immersion into Lucanian cuisine with the contemporary flair and, if there’s one thing you must try, it’s the crispy Peperoni Cruschi di Senise dipped in honey. WEBSITE
le bubbole, Palazzo Gattini
Places are also discovered through their flavours, and Matera, with its generous territory, offers an extraordinary variety. You can eat well anywhere, even by picking up a slice of pizza from a bakery. But if you’re looking to try a more sophisticated menu crafted by a creative chef, in this case, Massimo Carleo, the perfect spot is this panoramic terrace restaurant within Palazzo Gattini. Try the Risotto with artichokes, beef tartare, and buffalo mozzarella or the Lamb in crepinette, Canestrato cheese, vincotto, and licorice. WEBSITE
VITANTONIO LOMBARDO
A cave in the Rione Sassi left to its natural charm on purpose, designed by architect Alessandro Tortorelli and desired by Vitantonio, who chose Matera inspired by a place where cavities and convexities of stone can truly give rise to timeless taste experiences. WEBSITE
BACCANTI
An exceptional quality restaurant situated in the intimate atmosphere of the caves where tradition and history are at the core of the cuisine. Expect your southern flavours infused with a little land and a little sea accompanied by freshly baked hot Matera bread and extra virgin olive oil (just be careful to not fill up too much on bread!). WEBSITE
LA GATTABUIA
The cuisine of La Gattabuia is based on Italian and especially Lucanian gastronomic excellence. Each raw material is chosen with respect for the seasonality and producers, enhancing the fruits that each territory offers, with the aim of creating a virtuous network that starts from the land and ends up meeting our guests. WEBSITE
DIMORA ULMO
It is in this city, housed in a completely restored Palazzo in the heart of the Sassi cavea, that the Restaurant Dimora Ulmo combines art, design and high gastronomy. Ristorante Dimora Ulmo is the project of a young and professional team animated by genius and passion. With Chefs Michele Castelli and Virginia Caravita, both with an experience gained in Massimo Bottura’s kitchens, together with Nico Andrisani and Francesco Russo to give Dimora Ulmo their home, a special place where you can breathe elegance, taste, exclusivity, but also the warmth of a welcome. The view over the city from the terrace is breathtaking. WEBSITE
L’ARTURO
L’Arturo wants to satisfy all lovers of good food. That is why they select a wide range of quality local products: from cold cuts to cheeses, from taralli to pasta, from preserves to wines. The choice of food and wine specialities is based on their experience: we personally know the companies and places where the products come to life because they have always been our suppliers. WEBSITE
Oi Marì
Tucked into the ancient caves of Matera, Oi Marì began in 1999 as a simple, inspired idea: three friends, Mary and Sara Cotugno and Luca Mangiapia, bringing Neapolitan pizza to the Sassi for the very first time. Since then, it has evolved into a refined, seasonal kitchen rooted in the flavours of Basilicata. Interiors are the kind you visit this region for: a dining room carved into soft tufa stone. On the menu, local specialities take centre stage from peperoni cruschi of Senise to fava beans with chicory and lamb from the Lucanian Dolomites. Equally compelling is the wine offering with two cellars that house a collection of over 700 labels and 200 spirits. WEBSITE
Myricae ristorante
Myricae Ristorante takes its name from a verse by Giovanni Pascoli: a quiet ode to “small things,” to nature, memory and a slower, more contemplative rhythm of life. That same sensibility carries through the restaurant’s philosophy: a cuisine rooted in the land, yet reinterpreted with a refined, contemporary lens. Led by chefs Nicola Stella and Domenico Paolicelli, whose paths have been shaped by international experience, the kitchen moves between tradition and research, elevating humble, local ingredients into something nuanced and expressive. WEBSITE
BAKERIES
Panificio Cifarelli
This bakery is an icon in Matera, currently managed by third generation Massimo Cifarelli. The recipes of these bakes date back to 1947, when his grandmother would bake this sacred dough at home. Years later, this special bread made with sourdough starter spends two hours in the oven at high temperatures to form a crunchy crust, whilst maintaining a soft interior. Here, you’ll find this traditional bread, as well as friselle, taralli and other southern sweet and savoury specialties. WEBSITE
PANIFICIO PERRONE
If you only have time for a quick snack, you must try the focaccia from Panificio Perrone. The products of this bakery are those of the Matera tradition: the bread, taralli, biscuits and friselle; and they only use selected raw materials from the short supply chain from fine Lucanian cultivations. WEBSITE
PANIFICIO PAOLUCCIO
If you walk down Matera’s main street, let the smells guide you and you will find this small bakery very popular, even among the locals, for its superlative pizzas and focaccias with tomato, courgette or potato. Bread, biscuits and taralli are also good.
DRINK
APERITIVO & COCKTAILS
MONKEY DRINK HOUSE
Monkey Drink House, located in the Sassi of Matera just a stone’s throw from the cathedral, is a modern bar that offers, in a young and refined environment, American bar specialising in gin. wide selection of whiskies, craft beers and local wines. In addition to the wide range of gin and whisky, it is possible to taste a wide range of Lucanian and local wines, as well as fantastic cocktails both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, spirits, herbal teas, extracts and drinks in general. WEBSITE
Area 8
In Matera, a city famed for its ancient cave dwellings, Area 8 emerges as an unexpected revelation. Housed in a 300-year-old building, the former creative agency has evolved into one of southern Italy’s most talked-about venues. It unfolds as a sequence of immersive rooms: a piazza with DJ sets from a vintage van, a cinematic 1950s-style library, a billiard room turned vinyl lounge, and a cave-carved cinema steeped in dolce vita nostalgia. Led by South African creative Mikaela Bandini, the space blends restored Italian design with eclectic finds, creating a layered, atmospheric world. A magnet for creatives, Area 8 hosts events, dining experiences, and inventive cocktails with a playful edge. WEBSITE
ZIPACAFÉ
ZipaCafé is a cocktail bar born with the prospect of making ‘Madonna dell’Idris’ come alive for tourists, with a totally new air: colours in full vintage style and reminiscent of the old town, candles, lanterns, friendliness. From the little terrace below the entrance to the restaurant, there is a breathtaking view from which to admire the stones in all their splendour. Here, cocktails are made with selected and sought-after materials and there is a wide range of wines from all over the world, with flavours that marry the history that transpires from every single stone present. WEBSITE
QUARRY RESORT
The Quarry Resort – historical residence Palazzo Zicari, is located in the heart of the Sassi of Matera and is one of the most representative buildings of the Civita, overlooking the Sasso Caveoso. Here you can enjoy an exclusive aperitif with a unique view of the Matera landscape.
WEBSITE
WINERIES
TENUTE IACOVAZZO
Genuineness, purity and tradition in every wine: These are the three cornerstones of the philosophy of Giuseppe and Carlo Iacovazzo. On their wine-growing estates, located in Basilicata in the province of Matera, they cultivate prized grape varieties rich in tradition, from which they produce wines of different types with a unique and unmistakable aroma.
WEBSITE
BATTIFARANO
Want to treat your palate with an exquisite experience? Try Battifarano’s product: a ruby-coloured wine, the fascinating result of a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Primitivo and Merlot grapes, which recounts the strength of those Aragonese garrisons for which the family’s estate was built in the 16th century. WEBSITE
DRAGONE VINI
For four generations, the Dragone family’s wines have been an expression of typical Matera territory, but also of love, passion, history and tradition of a silent and generous land, of humble and dignified people. The Dragone winery has always been aware and proud of being an important part of the food and wine offerings of this city. WEBSITE
EXPERIENCES
Slow Italy Tours by Ferula Viaggi
Bicycle Tour
An unforgettable journey by bicycle to explore the fascinating landscapes of the Park of the Rupestrian Churches, enveloped by the scents of the countryside and admiring the panoramic views of the Sassi, until reaching an ancient farmhouse surrounded by centuries-old olive trees for a picnic with artisanal farm products accompanied by good wine. The excursion includes hybrid bike rental, a road book, and a complete map of the 25 km route, which lasts 4 hours and is suitable for cyclists of various skill levels.
Gastronomic Walking Tour
An extraordinary culinary journey through the ancient streets of Matera in the rich tapestry of flavours, aromas, and traditions of this UNESCO World Heritage city. This experience celebrates Matera’s culinary heritage with gourmet hosts to savour the authenticity and diversity of traditional products and delve into the origins and characteristics of local delicacies and centuries-old culinary traditions passed down through generations. Duration: approximately 2.5 hours.
The Path of the Quarries in the Park of the Rock Churches
A trail through the rugged beauty of the Murgia landscape, passing picturesque “iazzi” (ancient structures that once housed flocks), cisterns, and ancient constructions with panoramic views of the Sassi of Matera. The route offers breathtaking views at every turn, leading to an abandoned farm and then to Murgia Timone, where an iazzo now transformed into a visitor centre provides a welcome stop. The exploration lasts about 3 hours, covering a distance of approximately 5 kilometres with a 130-meter elevation gain, without particular difficulties. The return is on an organised vehicle.
Underground Matera
A city beneath the city, composed of houses, streets, cisterns, productive environments, and places of worship. A world to discover, a journey through time from its origins to today: museums, exhibition spaces, cellars, wells, cisterns, and snow storage rooms. Through an audio-guided tour, visitors are led along a path that extends over 1200 square meters and reaches a depth of 12 meters, visiting a hypogeum world carved into the rock, which is the oldest core of Matera and has been the subject of significant recovery and restoration interventions. A testimony to the rupestrian civilisation.
COOKING CLASS AT PALAZZO BERNARDINI
For a true insider’s experience, it is worth taking the time to visit Palazzo Bernardini, where Napoleon Bonaparte’s cousin slept, and where the lovely Mrs Annarosa Bernardini gives cooking lessons. WEBSITE