Matera – Day trip from Puglia – Travel guide

A trip to Puglia will never be complete without a Matera day trip. In fact, Matera it’s part of the Basilicata region but it’s located only 1-hour drive from Bari, and that is why it has becomes part of Puglia’s travel guides. The first thing you should know about Matera is that Matera is the third-oldest continually inhabited settlement in the world. Matera is also rich in history, it has some of the most stunning cave hotels and, of course, tasty Italian food. Also in 1993, Matera was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its particularity, Matera is entirely carved out of rocks, the so-called ‘Sassi‘.

How to reach Matera from Bari?

You can reach Matera by train from Bari Central Station, search for “Ferrovie Appulo Lucane station”. The ride takes about 1 and a half hours and costs 4 euros.
If you by mistake take the train from Bari Central Station (Ferrovie Appulo Lucane station), remember to change the train at Altamurra station.
Mind that there is no bus from Matera central station to the city center, but the station is located about 10 minutes walk to the town’s main square.

What to see in Matera day trip?

The city truly is a photo opportunity at every single angle. So the short answer is: take a self-guided trip, about 4 hours, and explore the whole city. I noticed that every local was ready to tell you pieces from the story of the city, so take a map (usually every hotel offers one), walk around, take pictures, meet locals and you will be stunned. Matera by the night is something else entirely, seeing the Sassi lit up for the night, makes completely another impact.

If you want some more information to orientate yourself in the city here it is:

The old town is made up of three sectors:
The Civita – The oldest part of Matera which has been inhabited for about 7000 years.

Sassi – There are two Sassi districts of Matera on either side of the Civita.

Casalnuovo – An area of dug-out rock dwellings, located across the gorge.

Top sites of Matera:

Rock Churches (Santa Maria de Idris, and this is probably the most impressive site in Matera.)

Duomo (The highest point of the city.)

Purgatory Church

San Giovanni Battista

San Francesco

Casa Grotta di Casalnuovo

Musma

Piazza del Sedile

Palazzo Lanfranchi

The best viewpoint of Matera:

Panorama from Matera Cathedral

Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio

Piazzetta Pascoli

The view from the Agostini church parvis

The terrace along via Santa Cesarea

Murgia Timone

Pro tip: Sleep in a boutique cave hotel.