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Last updated on June 17th, 2025 at 11:40 am
Do you believe in love at first sight? We do. Our love affair with Matera started the very second the existence of this ancient cave town in Southern Italy came to our knowledge. We don’t remember exactly when that was, but as soon as we googled Matera and hit the Images tab, we were hooked.
We knew we had to visit Matera at the first opportunity. So, when we (finally) planned our long-awaited Puglia road trip, Matera (although not in Puglia) was the very first city we added to our two-week itinerary.
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Things To Know Before You Visit Matera
Where Is Matera Italy
Matera is the most popular city in Basilicata, a region in Southern Italy. Basilicata is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets waiting to be discovered. With its picturesque villages and towns alongside the spectacular coastline and dramatic mountains, the Basilicata region is off-the-beaten-path Italy at its best.
Matera Old Town
We need to clarify here that, when we talk about Matera, we are referring to its historic centre. So do pretty much all of the other travel guides out there as well. You see, the city of Matera is really big but the only part that appeals to travellers is the Old Town. For good reason. But what does the historic centre include exactly? While planning our trip to Matera, we were quite baffled ourselves so we decided to be quite thorough on this one.
Civita
The Civita is the oldest part of Matera. It represents the first town settlement which has been inhabited for about 4000 years. Built on a hill overlooking the Gravina, Matera’s ravine, the Civita is dominated by the imposing Duomo, the Cathedral. It is home to a number of spectacular mansions. Just so you find your bearings easily, the Civita is the part of Matera situated between the two Sassi.
