Sassi of Matera Open-Top Eco-Bus Tour with Cave Dwelling Visit

Via Rocco Scotellaro and the eco-bus route

The tour starts on Via Rocco Scotellaro, on the edge of the upper town, where the electric eco-bus waits at its departure point. Traffic in the Sassi is restricted, so this quiet, low-emission bus is one of the few vehicles allowed along the panoramic road that circles the two cave districts. Seats on the open top give you a clear view on both sides, and the tour leader explains each sight as it appears.

The ride is the answer for anyone who wonders how to see the Sassi of Matera without long climbs: the old town is built on a steep slope, and visiting on foot means many uneven steps. On the bus you cover the whole loop in comfort, then decide where you want to return later with the map included in your ticket. It works well with children and with older travellers.

Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso

The Sassi are two ancient districts of cave dwellings carved into the soft stone of the ravine slope, inhabited since prehistoric times and listed by UNESCO in 1993. From the bus you first see Sasso Barisano, the more built-up quarter, with carved façades, small courtyards and bell towers rising above the roofs. Then the road turns towards Sasso Caveoso, where open caves and stairways climb around the rock spur of Monterrone and the little church of Santa Maria de Idris on its top.

The commentary covers the life of the cave town, the move of its residents to new districts in the 1950s and the restoration that brought the Sassi back to life, leading to Matera's year as European Capital of Culture in 2019. Is Matera worth visiting? This overview from above is the quickest way to see why so many travellers say yes.

The Gravina ravine and the Murgia plateau

Along the panoramic road the bus runs right on the edge of the Gravina di Matera, the deep limestone canyon that protected the town for thousands of years. Across the ravine rises the Murgia Materana Park, a wild plateau whose cliffs are pierced by caves and rupestrian churches carved by monks and shepherds in the Middle Ages. From the open deck you see both sides at once: the cave town on one bank and the empty plateau on the other.

This is the most photographed view of Matera, and the best time to visit for photos is the late morning or mid-afternoon, when the sun lights the stone. Spring and autumn bring mild weather for the open top; in summer the earlier departures are cooler, and in winter a warm jacket makes the ride more comfortable.

Piazza San Pietro Caveoso

The bus stops for about 40 minutes at Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, the lovely square at the heart of Sasso Caveoso. Its centrepiece is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, founded in the thirteenth century and rebuilt in Baroque style, standing right on the edge of the ravine. Above it, on the Monterrone rock, you can see the rock church of Santa Maria de Idris, and lanes of cave dwellings spread in every direction.

The tour leader accompanies you during the cave dwelling visit, and you then have about 25 minutes of free time to take photos, look into the craft shops or sit at a café in the square. The guide does not join you during the free time, so keep an eye on the clock and be back at the bus on time for the return ride to the upper town.

Furnished cave dwelling museum

Your ticket includes entry to a typical cave dwelling furnished as it was before the Sassi were emptied in the mid-twentieth century. Inside one carved room you see how a whole family lived: the high bed above the damp floor, the corner for the mule and hens, the rainwater cistern, the loom and the simple kitchen tools, with short explanations of each object.

The visit takes about fifteen minutes and gives real meaning to the views from the bus, because you finally step inside one of the caves you have been looking at. It is a favourite moment for children, and the cool air inside the stone is welcome on a hot afternoon. After the visit you return to the bus for the last part of the panoramic loop.