The Sassi of Matera

The Sassi of Matera are a great work of spontaneous architecture, a seemingly chaotic collection of narrow streets, mostly stairways, alternating with houses, courtyards, and small hanging gardens; a complex structure that demonstrates the local population's remarkable ability to manage the land and its resources.

Originating from a prehistoric settlement as a cave village with rooms entirely carved into the rock that today form the interiors of homes and buildings, starting in the Middle Ages and subsequently in the 16th and 17th centuries, they were transformed by a strong construction effort that transformed a natively cave landscape, still visible in the Murgia Park, into a fully-fledged urban environment.

The Sassi were a system of habitation and life primarily based on the ability to manage and store water through a complex system of cisterns that provided fresh, drinkable water to the population, avoiding long journeys for supplies.

In the Sassi, the population likely also owned small plots of land and hanging gardens, of which only small traces remain, which may have provided the necessary sustenance for the population that lived there.

The Sassi of Matera are divided into three areas: the Sasso Barisano, which extends north from the current city center; the central Civita hill, at the top of which stands the Cathedral; and the Sasso Caveoso, which begins at the end of the city center and extends southward.

Rock Churches

The rock churches in the Sassi of Matera are particularly popular. These places of worship, dating back to the Middle Ages, provide tangible evidence of man's evolutionary transition from prehistory to Christianity.

In the Sassi of Matera, the most important and visitable rock churches are:

Santa Maria de Idris - San Giovanni in Monterrone
The Church of Santa Maria de Idris is located within the rocky spur of Monterrone overlooking the Sasso Caveoso, near the Church of San Pietro Caveoso and the square of the same name. The location is stunning and offers a unique view of the city and the Gravina.

Santa Lucia alle Malve
The rock church of Santa Lucia alle Malve is located near the former church of Santa Maria de Idris in the Malve district. It was the first female monastic settlement of the Benedictine order, dating back to the 8th century, and the most important in the history of Matera.

San Pietro Barisano
Located in the Sasso Barisano, originally called San Pietro de Veteribus, it is the largest rock church in the city of Matera. Archaeological investigations have identified the first rock structure, dating back to the 12th-13th centuries, beneath the pavement.

Madonna delle Virtù and San Nicola dei Greci
This rock-cut complex is located at the foot of the Civita along the road overlooking the Gravina di Matera. Here, you'll find the Church of Madonna delle Virtù, which features a three-nave Romanesque layout with exquisite architectural features and reliefs, and the Crypt of San Nicola dei Greci, which houses some of the most important paintings among the rock-cut churches in the Matera area.