Matera sights at a glance
Matera is a town of stone, steps and slopes. The Sassi Caveoso and Barisano are the two historic districts, and the Civita with the cathedral lies between them. UNESCO listed the Sassi and the park of the rock churches in 1993. Most sights are small, so you can see several in one day if you start early.
The list is a selection and not a ranking. Walking the streets is the core of the visit, and the sites inside charge their own tickets. Prices are for adults in 2026 and can change.
The Sassi and the rock churches (1 to 5)
Two districts and three churches with their own tickets.
1. Sasso Caveoso
This is the district that opens toward the gorge. Paths and stairs wind between houses and caves, and several churches and the MUSMA lie here. Wear shoes with grip, because the stone is smooth in places. The streets are public, so you can walk them without a ticket for the district as a whole.
Sassi di Matera guide →2. Sasso Barisano
The Barisano is the second historic district, with dense rows of houses and the San Pietro Barisano church. The Sassi were emptied in the 1950s, and residents have been returning since the 1980s. Some houses are homes and some are hotels. Keep to public paths and respect private doors.
3. Santa Lucia alle Malve
This rock church is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. since 28 March 2026, with last entry at 7:20 p.m. One church costs €4.50, two €8 and three €10. Children up to 10 enter free with a parent. The site is closed on 2 July and 25 December.
4. Madonna de Idris and San Giovanni in Monterrone
These two churches form one complex and count as one choice on the ticket. The hours match Santa Lucia: 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., last entry at 7:20 p.m. Tickets are not refundable, and you show your online proof at the door.
5. San Pietro Barisano
The third church of the ticket is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., last entry at 6:50 p.m. Its bell tower is a landmark of the district. The operator has published spring hours from 28 March 2026. Check the winter timetable before a visit in the cold months.
Our picks: things to do in Matera
A Sassi walk, an e-bike ride to a viewpoint and a cooking class.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Pasta and tiramisu class at a local's home
You make two kinds of pasta and tiramisu, then eat them as lunch or dinner. Prosecco with nibbles, water, wine and coffee are included.
Check availability →
E-bike ride to the Sassi viewpoint
E-bike hire, helmet, a briefing and a local guide, with a viewpoint stop and savoury and sweet tastings. Riders need to be at least 160 cm tall; hotel transfer and other food and drinks are extra.
Check availability →
Sassi walk with a cave house and a rock church
A licensed guide, entry to a cave house museum and to the rock church of Sant'Antonio Abate, plus a discount coupon.
Check availability →Matera tours and day trips
Guided Sassi walks, food experiences and day trips from Matera, with live prices and availability.
Houses, cisterns, museums and the gorge (6 to 12)
Smaller sights that fill the rest of the day.
6. Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario
A historic cave dwelling, €8 since 4 April 2026, €5 reduced and €3 for ages 11 to 18. Children up to 10 enter free. The ticket covers 4 rooms with 3 audio guides, and the dwelling itself takes about 15 minutes. It opens at 9:30 a.m. most of the year and at 9 a.m. in July and August, with last entry 20 minutes before closing.
7. Palombaro Lungo
An underground cistern below Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Adults pay €3, minors enter free, and school classes pay €1.50. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. You visit alone in about 15 minutes. Pay on site by cash or card. Animals are not allowed.
8. MUSMA
The museum sits in the Palazzo Pomarici in the Sasso Caveoso. Full price is €10, €7 for FAI members and €5 for ages 7 to 18, students and groups of 15 or more. Guided visits cost €50 plus VAT, or €80 plus VAT in English. The hours are listed as 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in one place and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for October to March in another, so arrive early in autumn and winter.
9. The cathedral and MATA
The cathedral stands on the Civita between the two Sassi and rises above both districts. MATA is one of the 8 sites in the €25 combined ticket. Check the current hours at the ticket office.
10. Vicinato a Pozzo
This is an immersive museum, also part of the combined ticket. A free ticket for a guided visit is included in the Sasso Caveoso guided walk described on the tours page.
11. Museo del Pane
The bread museum is another of the 8 sites in the combined ticket, along with the church complexes, a typical cave house and the Purgatorio exhibition. The pass does not cover the Palombaro, MUSMA or the Vico Solitario house.
12. The Murgia path and belvedere
Path 406 starts at Porta Pistola and crosses the Gravina to the Murgia Timone. Access has been controlled since 1 March 2026, with a tourist ticket. The park rates it EE for experienced hikers, and the operator gives about 2 hours. The ticket page lists a shuttle to the belvedere, the visitor center and toilets. Sandals are not allowed.
Steps, shoes and timing
What to know before you walk.
Steps and slopes
Matera is built on a steep slope, and many routes use stairs. Ask each operator about step-free access before you go and do not assume it, for the churches, the cave house or the cistern.
Shoes and water
The guided walk operator recommends non-slip shoes, water and sun or rain protection. That applies to a self-guided day as well.
One day or two
On one day, combine entries 1 to 5 with the Palombaro. With two days, add the Casa Grotta, MUSMA and the Murgia path. See Matera for planning and cave hotels if you want to sleep in the Sassi.
If you continue south afterwards, Calabria is the next region, and its things to do are covered separately.
Things to do in Matera: frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to do in Matera?
Walking through the Sassi is the core of a visit. Add a rock church, the Casa Grotta or the Palombaro. The list above is a selection and not a ranking.
Do I need a ticket to walk through the Sassi?
The public streets are not ticketed as a whole. The churches, museums and the cistern each have their own tickets and rules.
Is there a combined ticket?
Yes. The €25 ticket covers 8 sites, with a reduced price of €16. It does not cover the Palombaro, MUSMA or the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario.
How long does the Palombaro Lungo take?
A self-guided visit takes about 15 minutes. There is no reservation, and you may wait if the cistern is full.
Is Matera suitable for visitors with limited mobility?
The town has many steps and slopes. Ask the operator of each site about access before you go.