There are many itineraries and pathways to follow for a satisfying trip to Matera. Here are some suggestions for those who want to start exploring the town and its environs immediately after arriving here.
In the Sassi
The Sassi are the pride of Matera and it is enough to simply stroll among the narrow streets to discover their special magic. If you wish to follow a specific route instead, you could well start from Piazzetta Pascoli, in the centre of the city, a panoramic vantage point from which you can admire the incredible scenery of the Sassi and the Murgia around the city and understand why it was chosen by so many directors for the setting of their films.
Continue towards Piazza San Pietro Caveoso where you can visit the church built in the seventeenth century on an earlier religious building. On the square is the small Errone hill (a few meters high), on top of which Santa Maria de Idris, one of the most beautiful rock churches of Matera, stands out. Dug into the rock, it is a particularly beautiful building full of spiritual suggestion.
Return to Piazza San Pietro Caveoso and ascend the street alongside the panoramic road. You will soon reach the beautiful rock church of Santa Lucia alle Malve, where art exhibitions are held, and that contains 12th and 13th century frescoes.
Underground Matera
A city carved and excavated into the rock cannot fail to have evocative ancient atmospheres also in its underground regions and exploring these parts of the city means going back to the ancient mysteries of mankind. In addition to the various oil-presses, mills, icehouses and churches excavated directly into the tuff rock, we recommend a visit to the Palombaro Lungo, situated under the central square Piazza Vittorio Veneto. This is a cistern (about 20 meters high) that once collected rainwater and supplied the wells in the area. It is truly spectacular due to its grandiose dimensions.
In the Murgia 
The Murgia materana is an important geographical feature which has influenced the structure, form and character of the city. It is a limestone plateau cut in two by a rift, sometimes over 100 meters deep, that water has dug into the rock. Matera rises on one side of the Gravina ravine, while on the other side there are mountain pathways offering the delights of nature and history as well as an unforgettable view of the city. As you explore the area your senses should be alert to everything around you, so as not to miss the scent of thyme and the flight of the kestrels that, especially at sunset, can be seen on the slopes of the Murgia and over Matera. All of this is a great heritage and it is under the protection of the Parco della Murgia Materana that extends over 6,000 hectares and contains many historical and environmental features of unparalleled beauty.
Under the stars 
The light of the moon can help you to discover many new shapes and attractions of Matera. After the intense white sun of the that glares down on the city’s stones by day, at night you can watch the silent spectacle of the Gravina valley and the Sassi with the cathedral rising on the acropolis of the Civita. If you prefer a bit of noise and action to such silent calm then you can wait until the night of July 2nd when you will enjoy the great firework display of the Festa della Bruna festival, illuminating the darkness with a man-made light-show!
