Sassi di Matera Historical Site

Address: Sassi, Matera, Basilicata, Italy

Admission: Free to explore the Sassi (public area); individual cave museums and house‑museums in the Sassi may charge admission

Sassi di Matera is the historic district of Matera in Basilicata, southern Italy, made up of ancient cave dwellings carved into limestone. The Sassi are among the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world and form a dense network of rock-cut houses, chambers and streets.

Two principal districts, known as Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, display the stacked cave-houses, facades and narrow alleys that characterize the town. The area also contains numerous rupestrian churches with medieval frescoes and a Romanesque cathedral on the Civita ridge, creating a compact ensemble of prehistoric, medieval and more recent structures.

The cave dwellings were inhabited across millennia and into the 20th century; widespread relocation and restoration began in the mid-1900s and the site has since been the focus of conservation and adaptive reuse. The Sassi’s UNESCO inscription in 1993 recognizes both the archaeological depth and the historic urban landscape.

Matera sits atop a rocky plateau overlooking the Gravina gorge in southern Italy; the Sassi cling to the ravine slopes and are visible from viewpoints around the Civita. The town is in the Basilicata region, accessible by road and rail links to the wider region.

• UNESCO status: Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 for its exceptional example of a troglodyte settlement and for the continuity of occupation from prehistoric times.
• Best viewpoints: Distinct viewpoints on the Civita ridge overlook the Sassi districts and give clear views across the layered cave houses and narrow streets below.

What to See#

• Sasso Caveoso: A district of rock-cut dwellings and streets carved into tuff on the western side of Matera, featuring many inhabited and restored cave houses.
• Sasso Barisano: A complementary district on the northern side of the old town with concentrations of cave houses, small churches and narrow alleys.
• Rupestrian churches: A group of rock-hewn churches and chapels decorated with medieval frescoes spread through the Sassi districts, reflecting long-term religious use of cave spaces.

From Bari (the nearest major city) Matera is about 60-70 km southeast by car - allow roughly 1 hour via the SS96/SS7 regional roads. There is parking near the city center; follow signs for the “Sassi” historic district.

By public transport, regional buses (SITA/AST) and Ferrovie Appulo Lucane services connect Bari and Matera. Buses and trains arrive at Matera’s central station/coach stop; the Sassi di Matera (ancient cave district) is a 10-20 minute walk uphill from the main bus/train stop into the old town.

• Go at sunrise (or very early weekday morning) to see the Sassi carved into warm side-light and to avoid the bulk of day‑tour groups; the panoramic viewpoint at the Murgia Timone ridge across the ravine gives the classic photo without the crowds.
• Enter the cave districts via the two distinct nuclei - Sasso Caveoso (Piazza San Pietro Caveoso) and Sasso Barisano (near Piazza Vittorio Veneto) - and walk the connecting stairways so you experience both layouts; many visitors stay only on the main terraces and miss the narrow internal lanes and cave dwellings.
• Buy a timed entry or combined ticket (for Casa Noha or local rupestrian-church sites) where available and check opening hours in advance - some of the cave churches and small museums close midday, so scheduling them early or late avoids missed visits.