Sassi di Matera is a district of cave dwellings carved into the volcanic tuff of the Gravina valley in Basilicata, inhabited continuously for more than 7,000 years. UNESCO added the Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches to its World Heritage List in 1993, citing it as the most outstanding surviving example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean.
The area splits into two districts: Sasso Caveoso, with its intact ancient cave homes, and Sasso Barisano, now filled with shops, hotels, and restaurants built into the rock. The surrounding Murgia Materana Park holds more than 150 rock-cut churches, including the frescoed Crypt of the Original Sin.
Wandering the Sassi’s streets and viewpoints is free, though guided tours are recommended for entering cave interiors and rock churches; a half day allows time to see both districts properly.
