The historical city of Matera should feature prominently on your southern Italy travel itinerary. With caves transformed into chic accommodations, fun restaurants and bars built into rocky outcrops, and a history like no other, there are numerous reasons to visit Matera.
Nick and I recently spent 5 days exploring the narrow alleyways, dining on the regional cuisine, and enjoying all of the interesting things to do in Matera.
Initially, it wasn’t on our radar, but after this visit, it’s safe to say that we’d return in a heartbeat.
Matera is located in Basilicata, right on the border with the more popular Puglia region of Italy. Many travelers combine a trip to Matera with an extended stay in Puglia (ourselves included), but there’s enough to see and do in Matera to spend 5 days or so here.
From being impoverished and considered the disgrace of Italy, to gaining UNESCO status and being a top Hollywood film site, Matera has been through it all and has risen to become a must-visit place in Italy.
Not to mention, Matera has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic times (10th millennium BC), meaning it’s one of the oldest, continuously inhabited places on earth!
Don’t miss this magical destination, it’s unlike anywhere we’ve been on our travels.
Best Things To Do in Matera
For such a small place, there are many activities for tourists in Matera. The city revolves around its caverns and you’ll spend a lot of time looking at caves, dining in them, and (if you choose) spending the night in one.
During our 5 days here, we were able to cover most of the top things to do in Matera. Here’s a list of my recommended things to do, foods to try, and experiences to have during your stay.
1. Join a Walking Tour
There’s so much to know about Matera and if you don’t do some sort of tour, you won’t have any idea of what you’re looking at — it’ll just be a bunch of rocks and caves. Bring the city to life with a walking tour.
No matter where in the world we travel, we always try to start our visit off with a guided stroll around the streets. This is the best way to get to know the destination through the eyes of a local guide.
We visited Matera in the month of October (which is considered the shoulder/off-season) and found that many of the guides were only offering tours in Italian. Unfortunately, our options for English-speaking walking…
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