A world unto itself
Beyond the legendary fascination of Matera is a region full of exquisite beauty and profound history. The mystery of prehistoric settlements, abandoned villages and rock churches, the awe-inspiring mountains of the Dolomiti lucane, the bucolic charm of centuries-old agricultural life, and the surreal magic of Matera itself take you back to a very different world where time seems to have stood still despite the presence of modern amenities and services. Check out some of its treasures waiting to be discovered here.
Click on the links on the map to see the options available, and select your preferred activity to construct your personal trip:
Matera
Matera achieved an almost legendary status ever since Mel Gibson chose this ancient city as the location for filming The Passion of the Christ in 2003, but it is really its inscription on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993 that cemented its importance in human history. Stay in one of the converted cave dwellings and experience it for yourself with a half- or full-day guided walk of the city.
Duration: 3-7 hours
Overnight in Matera
From S$130/person (group of 4 persons)
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Crypt of the Original Sin
Only open to the public in 2005, this cave has been in use since the Paleolithic times. Nicknamed “The Sistine Chapel of Rupestrian Art”, it was transformed into a place of worship in the second half of the 8th century into what we see today. Visits are for up to maximum of 20 persons and strictly limited to 30 minutes each time due to its extremely fragile state, and also require a walk of 700m from the ticket office. Good walking shoes recommended. Combine this with visit to other nearby monuments or nature reserve. Picture ©Fondazione Zétema Matera
Duration: 2 hours
Overnight in Matera
From S$180/person (group of 4 persons)
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Altamura
Altamura is best known in southern Italy for its bread, for which its fame began some 2 thousand years ago, but that's not the only attraction that that makes a visit worthwhile. The city itself is older than Rome, and you find things to see from the Renaissance going all the way back to some 150,000 years ago at the town's archaeological museum.
Duration: 3-5 hours
Overnight in Matera
From S$150/person (group of 4 persons)
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Castelsaraceno
This tiny mountain village located between two immense national parks is not only a welcome rest stop for a day's hike, but boasts something that no other village has: the world's longest suspension footbridge spanning nearly 600m over the gorge below. But there are plenty of other things you can do here, all to do with country life. Picture Corriere dell Sera
Duration: 3-7 hours
Overnight in Matera
From S$130/person (group of 4 persons)
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Gravina in Puglia
Like Matera, Gravina di Puglia is also perched on the edge of a ravine, in an area with dotted caves, and has a history going back to the paleolithic. Yet the two are very different from each other. Gravina is undoubtedly the more intimate of the two, and it's well worth your while to visit and experience. Combine this with your visit to Altamura. Picture ©Wikimedia Commons
Duration 3 hours
Overnight in Matera
From S$130 per person (group of 4 persons)
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Metaponto
A seaside resort with a major difference: this is the only one that comes with ancient Greek ruins! See these 2600 year old ruins with a visit archaeological museum and a quick stopover at the small castle of Bernauda nearby. Picture by Σπάρτακος for Wikimedia Commons
Duration: 2 hours
Overnight in Matera
From S$140/person (group of 4 persons)
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Craco
A series of landslides in the 1960s caused residents to abandon this little village, leaving it as a host town so evocative that many have made this a set location for their films, include Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ in 2004. Picture by Giuseppe Milo for Wikimedia Commons
Duration: 3 hours
Overnight in Matera
From S$140/person (group of 4 persons)
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Montalbano Jonico
The heavily eroded clay ravines below this town lend an almost otherworldly feel. If you happen to be visiting Craco this is one little stopover you might like to take in this most surreal landscape. Picture Wikimedia Commons.
Duration: 1 hour
Overnight in Matera
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Pietragalla, Potenza & surroundings
This village has the unique park consisting of 200 caves once used for storing grapes and wine-making, part of an ancient tradition found throughout the Mediterranean of which remain only these. Combine this with a visit to Potenza just a few kilometres away and the surrounding countryside. Picture by Roberto Pellechia
Duration: 3-6 hours
Overnight in Matera or Potenza
From S$180/person (group of 4 persons)
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Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano
These two villages, considered to be among the most beautiful in Italy for their dramatic setting among the rugged mountains of the Lucanian Dolomites, have to be seen to be believed. Often visited together, these village are also connected via an ancient shepherd's trail called the "Path of the Seven Stones" or, for the more adventurous, a thrilling 1.5km high-speed cable zipline that takes you over the spectacular scenery at 120km/h (May-November only). Definitely worth staying a night or more.
Duration: 3-7 hours
Overnight in Matera, Castelmezzano or Pietraapertosa
From S$150 per person (4 persons per group)
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Accettura
1000 year-old Accettura is a classic mountain village of southern Italy, located right in the heart of the Gallipoli Cognato Forest Reserve, offers both the anbience of an ancient settlement along with the excitement of outdoor activities in nature, ranging from wildlife-watching to bouldering, to to hunting for ancient prehistoric structures hidden in the woods.
Duration: 3-7 hours
Overnight in Pietrapertosa, Castelmezzano or Accettura.
From S$130/person (4 persons per group)
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Laterza
Laterza is a classic southern Italian town which happens to sit just above one of the largest ravines in Europe, providing visitors with both architectural and natural wonders to enjoy. visit the town to savour its ancient history and the panoramic vista of the ravine, or explore the ravine itself on foot or by donkey.
Duration: 3-7 hours
Overnight in Matera or Laterza
From S$130/person (group of 4 persons)
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Mugia Materana Regional Park
Rugged regional park next to the gorge of the Torrente Gravina, with churches carved out of the cliffs, some with 8th-c. frescoes. Quite a unique hiking experience that combines wild nature with ancient history. Appropriate clothing and good walking/hiking shoes recommended.
Duration: 3-7 hours.
Overnight in Matera
From S$150/person (4 persons per group)
Select from the activities below (you can remove them later if you wish to):
San Giuliano Lake and Nature Reserve
A nature reserve centred around one of te few lakes in Basilicata that is a haven for many aquatic bird species. Combine a walk here with a visit to the Crypt of the Original Sin nearby. Picture by Pietro Paolo Palumbo for Wikimedia Commons
Duration: 2-5 hours depending on activity
Overnight in Matera
From S$130/person (4 persons per group)
Select from the activities below (you can remove them later if you wish to):
These are just some of experiences that you can enjoy.
Get in touch with us to find out even more!
All this is just some of experiences
that you can enjoy.
Get in touch with us to find out even more!
- All prices indicated are approximate only, based on an assumed group of 4 persons, and are provided purely for estimating the budget for your trip.
- There will be additional costs involved if separate transport is required other than that already specified in the activity, such as transfers to and from the airport, or from your accommodation to place of activity and back.
- For the purpose of budgeting, an assumed fixed average daily amount for accommodation based on 2 persons sharing a room in a generic 4-star hotel shall be used.