Search coach tickets to Matera

Located in the region of Basilicata, the small city of Matera is often overlooked by travelers. Matera's rocky landscape made it difficult to build a traditional city throughout its history. In the Sassi area of Matera, residents dating back to the Palaeolithic era worked with nature to carve homes and buildings from the cliffs. The Sassi area of cave dwellings, inhabited until 1952, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, Matera has lots more to offer visitors aside from its unusual architecture.

For a city this storied, it's best to take a guided tour to learn all about Matera's fascinating, long history. The city and surrounding area are home to around 100 churches, many filled with unique art and stone carvings. To see how many of the town's residents once lived, visit the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario, a recreated cave dwelling.

To fully immerse yourself, you can even stay in one of the boutique hotels built inside the caves. After a day spent wandering through Matera's narrow winding streets, spend the night in one of the converted traditional Sassi for a truly authentic experience of Matera.

Since Matera is a relatively small town, the transportation options are limited. The closest airport is located near Bari, around 60km away. However, several bus lines provide service to Matera from cities including Bari, Naples, Rome, and more.