Is Matera Italy Worth Visiting? Yes, Matera is absolutely worth visiting! Matera is truly special—it has a spectacular setting, fascinating history, and excellent cuisine. It's as beautiful as many cities in Italy but far less crowded.
People Also Ask
Even though I recommend staying overnight in Matera (so you can get the full experience + sleep in cave hotel), this city is also a popular destination for a day trip from Bari. If you're short on time, you can always visit Matera for just a few hours and still see a lot that the city has to offer.
Both Matera and Alberobello are fascinating, but they evoke completely different feelings. Both are rich in history. However, in Matera, you get the impression of struggle amongst a vast wilderness, whilst Alberobello brings magic and enchantment to mind.
Palazzo Gattini is the hotel of Matera that contributed to the new James Bond movie offering hospitality, privacy and serenity to the movie director, Cary Joji Fukunaga, and to the main actors, Daniel Craig and Léa Seydoux.
But be careful, during your Matera walking tour, you will involve a lot of walking, and as the city is hilly, hot—especially in the summer—and completely out in the open, you'll want to make sure you pack comfortable shoes and plenty of water.
Dating back to 7000BC, Matera is touted as one of the oldest human settlements in the world. It might be one of the oldest, but it doesn't take long to appreciate. Two days in Matera is a perfect length for a visit.
The old town of Matera has been abandoned for such a long time that it is still unusual to see locals enjoying a walk in the “Sassi” area. In the higher part of town and the new area, you'll find many locals, whereas the lower sassi area will be busy in the day with tourists and people working, but very quiet at night.
The only easy way to get around Matera is on foot, and be prepared for a lot of climbing. Most of the sassi district is closed to car traffic; if you're arriving by car, make arrangements in advance with your hotel for arrival and parking.
You should know that there are many beautiful beaches around Matera. Here are some of them: Lido di Metaponto, Nova Siri Marina, Marina di Pisticci and the Bosco Pantano beach. I recommend you drop in or spend a day or more there, as they are the ideal place for a swim in the midst of nature!
We had an overnight stay in a cavern hotel, and that allowed us to explore the Sassi after dark as well as by day. You may want to allocate at least two nights/one full day to Matera. It's definitely a unique place, also sleeping in a sasso (heritage districts) is a special experience itself.
Matera is a very small city, so as long as you stay fairly central you're never going to be far away from anywhere else in town. But it is extremely hilly, so short distances can be more work than they seem.
1. POLIGNANO A MARE. Polignano a Mare is one of the most famous destinations in Puglia, and for good reason! This coastal town is best known for its dramatic cliffs, beautiful seas and white pebble beaches.
Self-Guided Walking Tours to Explore Matera, ItalyYou can also create your own self-guided walk to visit the city attractions which interest you the most. How it works: Download the app GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet.
But no place else in Italy can you take a walking tour of the third-oldest city in the world. Matera, located in the heart of the lightly trodden region of Basilicata, is 9,000 years old. Think about it. It has been continually inhabited since 7,000 years before Christ.