Things to do in Matera
Hints for unique experiences in the city!
Matera is one of the oldest cities on earth and is the emblem of human inventiveness and natural wonders.
The historic center, with its distinctive dwellings (the so-called Sassi di Matera) looks almost like a labyrinth, and is surrounded by a canyon ideal for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and more.
But beyond what you can see there is much more, and below the town's central square you can discover an incredible system of underground cisterns used in ancient times to collect and use rainwater (an architectural masterpiece for which Matera was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
In addition, the city is the perfect gateway to discover the beauty of the entire Basilicata region, Apulia and Calabria.
The city is 1 hour (by car) from the Itria Valley and the Lucanian Dolomites Park (where you can try the experience of the Flight of the Angel), and 30 minutes from the beautiful beaches of the Ionian Sea.
Finally, also only 30 minutes away, you can visit the town of Grottole, where thanks to our Wonder Grottole partners you can enjoy many authentic experiences with the community for example: beekeeping and honey tasting, handcrafted pottery workshops, wine tasting.
Below are some tips to experience a very special trip!
Visit the Sassi of Matera
Sassi di Matera is the name given to the peculiar dwellings in the city's historic center: ancient settlements made by the local population by excavating the calcareous rock. The name is also used to identify the two neighborhoods that make up the center: Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, a place of incredible charm in which to get lost and feel suspended in time as you walk through alleys and rupestrian houses, some of which have been transformed into museums, restaurants and hotels.
Hint: to learn about the city's history, visit Casa Noha, a museum where you can watch a short documentary that tells the story of the evolution of Matera and its community (click here to find out more)
Explore the canyon and its prehistoric caves
The park that surrounds Matera has been inhabited since prehistoric times and still preserves settlements dating back to the Paleolithic, such as the bat cave, and the Neolithic, such as the numerous entrenched villages; it is also home to about 150 rock churches and places of worship, often embellished with frescoes and engravings.
Hint: Every week there are treks organized by various local associations to explore the canyon surrounding Matera and its fascinating caves-our hosts will help find the route that's right for you!
Wonder Grottole experience
Basilicata is full of small towns , communities and cultures just waiting to be discovered. For example, in the village of Grottole you can learn to make handcrafted pottery with Nisio Lopergolo, the village's last master potter, taste wine in the cellars of local families, and become a beekeeper for a day guided by expert Rocco Filomeno.
Hint: Would you like to visit the small rural villages surrounding Matera? Start in the village of Grottole, where you can work remotely or participate in local experiences thanks to the Wonder Grottole team (click here to find out more)
Relax and take your time
Matera is the ideal place to cuddle up and experience different wellness paths, alone or with your partner. There are several spas in town, including the Antiche Termae Romanae at Locanda di San Martino: a magical place where sounds, lights and colors will take you back to the quiet of the womb.
Hint: Would you like to relax at the spa? Book a visit to the Locanda di San Martino (click here to find out more)
Craco, the ghost town
Nearby and not-to-be-missed towns include the village of Craco, nestled in the heart of the Calanchi, clay mountains that are created by weathering and, with the passage of time, take on incredible shapes with pinnacles and spires.
Destroyed in 1963 by a landslide that forced the local population to abandon the village, walking through the alleys of the village you still seem to hear the voices of the people who inhabited it, the tolling of the bells of the churches that brought it to life and that, to look at them, destroyed and outraged by the landslide, have nevertheless kept their history intact.
Hint: Would you like to visit the ghost town? Our friends at Oltre l'Arte organize official guided tours, and our team can help you get in touch with them (click here to find out more)
Explore the universe and travel among the stars
Basilicata offers the chance to admire clear starry skies thanks to low light pollution and the presence of several astronomical observatories such as the Anzi Planetarium, the Castelgrande Astronomical Observatory, the Space Geodesy Center and the Sparkme Space Academy.
Hint: Would you like to observe constellations and planets? Visit the Anzi Planetarium (click here to find out more)
Would you like to find out more about space geodesy? Visit the E-Geos Center (click here to find out more)
Would you like to find out more about space missions and the cosmos? Visit the Sparkme Academy (click here to find out more)
If you meet any problems, our team can put you in touch with the people in charge of the various facilities.
Meet the dolphins and local wildlife
Overlooking the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, Basilicata is home to many species of animals and plants that need to be preserved, including loggerhead turtles, which lay their eggs in this corner of paradise every year, and Mediterranean dolphins.
Hint: Would you like to meet dolphins? Become a researcher for a day with the Jonian Dolphin Conservation team (click here to find out more)
Would you like to meet turtles? Visit the WWF Oasis in Policoro (click here to find out more)
Angel flight
Fly from mountaintop to mountaintop between two villages nestled in the magical Lucanian Dolomites: Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano. In the villages you can also walk the “Seven Stones Trail” and the Salemm Via Ferrata, which allows you to climb the rocky ridges of the Dolomites.
Hint: Would you like to go on an adventure? (click here and find out what activities are possible)
Rafting and river walking
Join our friends at River Tribe and go rafting and many other outdoor activities along a river surrounded by forest and through the impressive Lao Canyon, among the deepest in Europe.
Hint: To book an experience contact our friends at River Tribe (click here to find out more)
The longest tibetan bridge in the world
At 586 meters long, this bridge crosses the village of Castelsaraceno, one of the most picturesque in Basilicata. With breathtaking views and uncharted natural glimpses, it is the perfect destination for a truly full immersion in nature.
Hint: To book an experience contact the Visit Castelsaraceno team (click here to find out more)
