Metaponto at a glance
Metaponto lies on the Ionian coast, on the opposite side of the region from Maratea and away from the Sassi of Matera. Its main draw is archaeology: the remains of a Greek city, with the Tavole Palatine as the best-known monument. The coast around it is known as the Metapontino.
Treat Metaponto as a short stop. What you add to the temple depends on whether you want the museum depot, the sea or both.
Metaponto and coast tours
Day trips and guided visits that include Metaponto, the Greek ruins and the Ionian coast, with live prices and availability.
Tavole Palatine
The Greek temple outside the ancient city.
The Tavole Palatine are the remains of a Doric temple to Hera. It stood outside the ancient city. The museum counts 15 surviving columns, 10 on the north side and 5 on the south. Tourist overviews sometimes give other numbers, so rely on the museum's figure.
The museum page lists opening hours of Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30–19:30, with the last entry at 19:00, and Monday closed. Read these as published hours, not as a promise of opening after dark in winter. Evening light turns the stone warm, which is worth planning around in the warmer months.
On admission, the museum's own pages disagree. The museum's detail page describes free access to the Hera temple and the park. Its home page lists a €5 ticket for the park. Ask at the entrance and keep a few euros in cash for the case that a ticket is needed.
The museum and the depot exhibition
The main National Archaeological Museum of Metaponto is closed for renovation. A separate exhibition, "Le dee del grano" (the goddesses of grain), opened in the depots on 20 December 2025. It is a different visit from the museum and works by reservation only.
The ministry lists the depot as open Monday to Friday, 10:00–19:00. The museum's own page gives Monday to Friday, 10:00–18:00 with last entry at 17:30, and closes the depot on weekends. Plan for the shorter hours. Reserve by phone on +39 0835 745327 or +39 0835 234940.
The museum's price list shows a €5 museum ticket (€2 reduced), a €5 park ticket and a €3 depot ticket, plus combined tickets at €10 for museum, park and depot and €6 for museum and depot. A published price does not mean the main museum is open, so confirm what your ticket covers. Visitors under 18 enter state museums and sites free, and children under 12 need an adult.
Published prices at a glance
From the museum's price list. Confirm before you go.
| Ticket | Full price | Reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Museum | €5 | €2 |
| Archaeological park | €5 | – |
| Depot exhibition | €3 | – |
| Museum, park and depot | €10 | – |
| Museum and depot | €6 | – |
Beaches on the Ionian coast
The sea is the other reason to stop.
The museum's own materials place the beaches of the Metapontino among the sights around Bernalda. Rules for beach clubs, parking and swimming differ by stretch of coast, so check them where you plan to stop. Do not assume a beach is guarded or free. For more sea and sand, see the beaches of Calabria on the other side of the Gulf of Taranto.
Combine Metaponto with other stops
Where it fits in a Basilicata trip.
Craco
A guided visit to the abandoned hill village.
Matera
The Sassi, rock churches and how to plan a visit.
Getting there
Trains, buses and driving into Basilicata.
If you are staying in the area, see where to stay. If your route continues south, visit Calabria covers the next region. You can read more about this one on things to do in Basilicata.
Planning a visit
Four points that save you a wasted trip.
- Call first for the depot. The exhibition runs by reservation, and the two phone numbers above are the ones the museum publishes.
- Avoid Monday. The temple and museum list Monday as the closed day.
- Carry small change. Because the museum's pages differ on whether the park is free, bring a few euros for a ticket.
- Do not expect the main museum. A published museum price is not proof that the building has reopened, so ask what your ticket includes.
Hours for the archaeological park also change in summer. One page lists Thursday and Friday 14:30–19:30 and Saturday and Sunday 08:30–19:30 from 1 July, with the last entry at 19:00. Another lists Tuesday to Sunday. Confirm the hours for your date rather than relying on either.
Metaponto: frequently asked questions
What are the Tavole Palatine?
The remains of a Doric temple to Hera outside the ancient city of Metaponto. The museum counts 15 surviving columns.
Is the Tavole Palatine free?
The museum's pages differ. One page describes free access, another lists a €5 park ticket. Ask at the entrance.
Is the Metaponto museum open?
The main museum is closed for renovation. A depot exhibition is open by reservation. Phone ahead.
What day is Metaponto closed?
Monday, on the published schedule. The temple is listed as open Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30–19:30.
Can children visit for free?
Visitors under 18 enter state museums and archaeological sites free. Children under 12 need an accompanying adult.