History & culture · Matera
Matera History & Culture
Top experiences in Matera
About Matera
Matera's history is written in stone — literally. The Sassi cave districts and the underground cisterns beneath them hold layers of human habitation stretching back millennia, and the city's museums and artisan workshops are the best way to read them. Start with the Matera: Guided Tour of the Ancient Underground City & Cave Houses, which takes you inside the excavated spaces most visitors walk over without noticing, or spend an afternoon learning a craft that shaped the city's identity at the Matera: Tufa Stone Carving Workshop with a Local Craftsman.
Quick match
Find the right experience in Matera — in 30 seconds
Frequently asked questions
Matera's history is not displayed behind glass — it is the city itself. Cave houses, rock churches and underground cisterns are the exhibits, and guided tours such as the Ancient Underground City & Cave Houses walk you through them with context on how people actually lived here.
