Parco della Murgia Materana
Parco della Murgia Materana
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- duhozBeroun, Czech Republic6,279 contributionsMust to do hike, save time for itWhen visiting Matera make sure you save time for this beautiful easy trek to see the city from the different perspective and take nice pics. It is easy to navigate around. The entrance to the trail-head is not far away from San Pietro Caveaso. To complete the trek in relax way to see the plateau and surroundings, take picture is 60-90 minutes. On the way up and down via the rover Gravina you will see some caves, small churches and viewing platforms for stunning views.Visited October 2021Written November 11, 2021
- TravelhuiHonolulu, Hawaii910 contributionsWorth it just for the view!Absolutely worth the trek to get the view of Matera. The round trip from the entry point to the look out point and back took me about 2 hours and 20 minutes, and that was walking leisurely with many stops for taking pictures and lingering at scenic points. Also, I chose to go in the morning, and when I got to the look out point at 11:30 the sun was behind me and shining right on the Matera, perfect for pictures. Saw a number of caves, but none with paining: apparently some filming activities had caused the closure of parts of the mountain. Even without seeing painted caves, the view made it worthwhile.Visited November 2022Written November 25, 2022
- Richard WongHong Kong, China50 contributionsRewarding view of MateraThe view of Matera was stunning and rewarding once you get to the top. There were rock churches and sites, and explanatory signs in Italian and English. Tip: in summer days, avoid hiking from 12am to 4:30pm, the hottest period.Visited June 2022Traveled soloWritten July 20, 2022
- viking682018York, United Kingdom4 contributionsMountain goat path, but worth it for the view.Channel your inner mountain goat, take the exhilarating but risky path from via Madonna.The view is worth it.No wonder cinema directors have used this as a stand in for the Holy Land. I would have respected 007 more if he had attempted the climb to the top of the gorge. If you can’t face the walk back there’s a Miccolis bus back to the bus station.Visited April 2022Traveled as a coupleWritten April 24, 2022
- Ellen664Toronto, Canada63 contributionsBreathtaking viewsPhenomenal afternoon enjoying the hike across. Breathtaking views to be enjoyed along the way and once on the other side and at the top of course as well. Did some reading beforehand and went well prepared, brought lunch, water and wearing good solid shoes made this hike a memorable one in the good sense. Saw several people slip and even fall..the very few first steps onto the path give you a good idea of what's ahead.Visited March 2022Traveled as a coupleWritten March 12, 2022
- daymoLiverpoolLiverpool, United Kingdom909 contributionsLove this parkI got the special bus which is located right by the train station in Matera - the special bus goes every half hour and costs 1.50 Euros each way so 3 Euros return. The journey takes about 15 mins on the bus and it’s quite a nice ride. The bus leaves each way every half hour. You should bring supplies with you water and nibbles as there was no shop up there and no real place for shade. It had some great places to go exploring and take amazing panoramic views over the Sassi side. I loved being up it was very quiet and so a nice place to get the views over Matera. There is some gorgeous wildflowers growing and nice places to go searching.Visited April 2018Traveled with friendsWritten May 2, 2018
- Persephone1977Oxford, United Kingdom16 contributionsQuite a workout but a unique experienceI had realised, the day I arrived in Matera, that this walk should be undertaken during the cooler parts of the day. However, it was still incredibly hot (for a Brit, at least) at 7am, when I chose to descend into the valley. There was a lovely breeze - especially lower down - however, so things weren't so bad. I question my wisdom in going when there were so few people around (I'd have been in trouble if I'd had an accident) but I really wanted to get on with it. Getting down was harder work than getting back up and I ended up doing some of it on my behind because it was pretty precarious. I saw some people in skirts and dresses trying to get down to the stream but I think you need some bits of proper walking gear if you want to do this walk completely safely. You really do need a good pair of trainers, at least, and if I did it again, I'd be sure to have walking boots. The terrain is uneven and slippery, in places, so although my trainers didn't let me down, I'd have been better off with more solid footwear. There is also quite a lot of broken glass on the route, sadly, so you need protection from that. I made it up to some of the caves and enjoyed the solitude there, which was why I'd chosen to visit early. I won't attempt to describe how it feels to look across to Matera, whilst sitting there. It was simply a unique experience. The valley is filled with sounds from building works going on in the city but that, somehow, adds poignancy to the place, despite the discordant noises. The flora and fauna made this a very pleasant experience. There was a huge number of beautiful dragonflies and lots of lizards to keep me company. Wild thyme grows along the route, too. This was hard work (I'm not a seasoned walker) but worth it. My legs certainly got a good workout. I imagine it would be almost impossible to do if you have knee or hip joint problems. Safety / convenience things to look out for: 1. Go during the cooler parts of the day. 2. Take plenty of water. 3. Wear full-length trousers if you want to avoid scratches and scrapes to your legs. I didn't and I'm covered in marks. 4. Some kind of fingerless gloves will make the journey easier. There is broken glass and there are some scratchy plants but you may need to support yourself, at times, by putting your hands to the ground. 5. You may have to have a manicure afterwards. This was hard on my nails! 6. The bridge is perfectly robust but it wobbles a lot! I didn't like it and took two attempts to make the first crossing. I had to be very self-encouraging to get across and probably looked ridiculous talking myself from one side to the other. It doesn't look like a big deal to most people but if you have a little vertigo, you may need to steel yourself for this. 7. Be prepared to take your time. If this was in the UK, there would be all sorts of rails, fences, signs and supports around but one of the charms of this place is that it's been left as natural as possible and this comes with a few potential dangers. Prevention will possibly mean saying goodbye to your dignity for a while if you want to complete the walk as safely as possible. 8. I would be concerned about taking a small child.Visited August 2016Traveled soloWritten August 2, 2016
- sidderWest Chester, Pennsylvania647 contributionsTips for walking/hiking the ParcoWe had a lovely morning hike in the Parco. Here are a few thoughts: 1. Entry along stairs gives an idea of the grade. 2. The suspension bridge at the bottom of the valley is an easier destination and provides interesting view of the old town 3. After crossing the bridge, follow the hike to the top of the other side of the ravine. Follow pathway toward Sassi, and then down again so that you can see the carved out caves, follow path down to bridge. 4. Budget about 2 hours to walk the loopVisited June 2016Traveled as a coupleWritten June 29, 2016
- Titus DSri Lanka6,910 contributionsWith Beautiful Scenes, Parco della Murgia Materana having Parks, the Bridge of Rocks, Caves, Grottoes, Cave Church etc.This is really something to do when visiting Matera and it is an extraordinary place. The nature around is beautiful and it's a fine experience to walk there to visit the remains but also to enjoy the view of beautiful Matera from the other side. We loved it. This area and Matera itself is a photographers paradise, there are so many spectacular views, not to mention the ancient cave houses that pepper the limestone surroundings.A walk down into the ravine is a must for any visitor to Matera. Along the way, check out the ancient caves, then look back to the incredible views of the Sassi. It is quite an easy walk with a small amount of climbing at the finish. Pull into the restaurant at the top of the path for a refreshment and recovery break. From the city, walking out into the park looks complicated and strenuous. While it's definitely more than a stroll, the park is actually quite easy to navigate and it's not very hard to get to a magnificent view very quickly. There is a bridge of rocks that takes you easily across the water. From there, there are paths that crisscross the hills and take you wherever you want to go. Getting lost is not a worry because you can see everything around. I went up to the rocks across from the Sasso Barisano as there is no road that can take you to this spot by car. At the top there was a cave church and a cave that were very neat to see. Mostly though, the view of Matera is spectacular. I found directions in my lonely planet guide book telling me to take the stairs from a certain monastery that I could not find in google maps. Altereno Cafe is in the same spot (maybe in the building of the old Monastary. You take the path down the near rim of the ravine. When you hit the floor you can go left or right, if you want to go up to the rim closer to Sasso Caveosa where you can see a lot of caves / grottoes up at the rim, go right and find a place to cross the river (there are no bridges, but there are places where the rocks make it easy to cross) you can then take one of two switchback paths up the far rim of the ravine. To get to the rim closer to Sassp Barisano, take a left when you hit the floor of the ravine and follow the trail around the curve of the river. It is well worth a visit. You can then walk anywhere you fancy. Take care as there are some very steep drops.Visited August 2017Traveled with friendsWritten February 7, 2018
- Me_n_my_rucksackYorkshire, United Kingdom6,100 contributionsExcellent Phot Opportunities - the best place to get a great photo of the CityHaving been attracted to come to Matera not only by its fascinating history, but also by the chance to get some atmospheric photos of the place I was dissapointed by the fact that arriving by car there were no views of the gorgeous old town. Did a bit of reasearch and found that this park is the place to go. You can hike down from the old town and cross a small footbridge or get to some excellent viewpoints by car (Leave Matera on the SS& heading for Taranto and a few Km out of town theres a small turning to the right to Belvedere Church or Belvedere point or something with Belvedere in it..... Anyway follow that small road upwards and eventually theres a free car park and voila - views ! We spent ages here admiring the old town and gettinp photographs - its very rocky and as its a steep sided valley there are very dangerous precipices so i would be fairly carefull when pottering about. Our abiding memory of Matera.Visited June 2016Traveled as a coupleWritten June 26, 2016
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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viking682018
York, UK4 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Channel your inner mountain goat, take the exhilarating but risky path from via Madonna.The view is worth it.No wonder cinema directors have used this as a stand in for the Holy Land. I would have respected 007 more if he had attempted the climb to the top of the gorge. If you can’t face the walk back there’s a Miccolis bus back to the bus station.
Written April 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ellen664
Toronto, Canada63 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
Phenomenal afternoon enjoying the hike across. Breathtaking views to be enjoyed along the way and once on the other side and at the top of course as well.
Did some reading beforehand and went well prepared, brought lunch, water and wearing good solid shoes made this hike a memorable one in the good sense. Saw several people slip and even fall..the very few first steps onto the path give you a good idea of what's ahead.
Did some reading beforehand and went well prepared, brought lunch, water and wearing good solid shoes made this hike a memorable one in the good sense. Saw several people slip and even fall..the very few first steps onto the path give you a good idea of what's ahead.
Written March 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
daymoLiverpool
Liverpool, UK909 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
I got the special bus which is located right by the train station in Matera - the special bus goes every half hour and costs 1.50 Euros each way so 3 Euros return. The journey takes about 15 mins on the bus and it’s quite a nice ride. The bus leaves each way every half hour.
You should bring supplies with you water and nibbles as there was no shop up there and no real place for shade. It had some great places to go exploring and take amazing panoramic views over the Sassi side. I loved being up it was very quiet and so a nice place to get the views over Matera. There is some gorgeous wildflowers growing and nice places to go searching.
You should bring supplies with you water and nibbles as there was no shop up there and no real place for shade. It had some great places to go exploring and take amazing panoramic views over the Sassi side. I loved being up it was very quiet and so a nice place to get the views over Matera. There is some gorgeous wildflowers growing and nice places to go searching.
Written May 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Persephone1977
Oxford, UK16 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
I had realised, the day I arrived in Matera, that this walk should be undertaken during the cooler parts of the day. However, it was still incredibly hot (for a Brit, at least) at 7am, when I chose to descend into the valley. There was a lovely breeze - especially lower down - however, so things weren't so bad. I question my wisdom in going when there were so few people around (I'd have been in trouble if I'd had an accident) but I really wanted to get on with it.
Getting down was harder work than getting back up and I ended up doing some of it on my behind because it was pretty precarious. I saw some people in skirts and dresses trying to get down to the stream but I think you need some bits of proper walking gear if you want to do this walk completely safely. You really do need a good pair of trainers, at least, and if I did it again, I'd be sure to have walking boots. The terrain is uneven and slippery, in places, so although my trainers didn't let me down, I'd have been better off with more solid footwear. There is also quite a lot of broken glass on the route, sadly, so you need protection from that.
I made it up to some of the caves and enjoyed the solitude there, which was why I'd chosen to visit early. I won't attempt to describe how it feels to look across to Matera, whilst sitting there. It was simply a unique experience. The valley is filled with sounds from building works going on in the city but that, somehow, adds poignancy to the place, despite the discordant noises.
The flora and fauna made this a very pleasant experience. There was a huge number of beautiful dragonflies and lots of lizards to keep me company. Wild thyme grows along the route, too.
This was hard work (I'm not a seasoned walker) but worth it. My legs certainly got a good workout. I imagine it would be almost impossible to do if you have knee or hip joint problems.
Safety / convenience things to look out for:
1. Go during the cooler parts of the day.
2. Take plenty of water.
3. Wear full-length trousers if you want to avoid scratches and scrapes to your legs. I didn't and I'm covered in marks.
4. Some kind of fingerless gloves will make the journey easier. There is broken glass and there are some scratchy plants but you may need to support yourself, at times, by putting your hands to the ground.
5. You may have to have a manicure afterwards. This was hard on my nails!
6. The bridge is perfectly robust but it wobbles a lot! I didn't like it and took two attempts to make the first crossing. I had to be very self-encouraging to get across and probably looked ridiculous talking myself from one side to the other. It doesn't look like a big deal to most people but if you have a little vertigo, you may need to steel yourself for this.
7. Be prepared to take your time. If this was in the UK, there would be all sorts of rails, fences, signs and supports around but one of the charms of this place is that it's been left as natural as possible and this comes with a few potential dangers. Prevention will possibly mean saying goodbye to your dignity for a while if you want to complete the walk as safely as possible.
8. I would be concerned about taking a small child.
Getting down was harder work than getting back up and I ended up doing some of it on my behind because it was pretty precarious. I saw some people in skirts and dresses trying to get down to the stream but I think you need some bits of proper walking gear if you want to do this walk completely safely. You really do need a good pair of trainers, at least, and if I did it again, I'd be sure to have walking boots. The terrain is uneven and slippery, in places, so although my trainers didn't let me down, I'd have been better off with more solid footwear. There is also quite a lot of broken glass on the route, sadly, so you need protection from that.
I made it up to some of the caves and enjoyed the solitude there, which was why I'd chosen to visit early. I won't attempt to describe how it feels to look across to Matera, whilst sitting there. It was simply a unique experience. The valley is filled with sounds from building works going on in the city but that, somehow, adds poignancy to the place, despite the discordant noises.
The flora and fauna made this a very pleasant experience. There was a huge number of beautiful dragonflies and lots of lizards to keep me company. Wild thyme grows along the route, too.
This was hard work (I'm not a seasoned walker) but worth it. My legs certainly got a good workout. I imagine it would be almost impossible to do if you have knee or hip joint problems.
Safety / convenience things to look out for:
1. Go during the cooler parts of the day.
2. Take plenty of water.
3. Wear full-length trousers if you want to avoid scratches and scrapes to your legs. I didn't and I'm covered in marks.
4. Some kind of fingerless gloves will make the journey easier. There is broken glass and there are some scratchy plants but you may need to support yourself, at times, by putting your hands to the ground.
5. You may have to have a manicure afterwards. This was hard on my nails!
6. The bridge is perfectly robust but it wobbles a lot! I didn't like it and took two attempts to make the first crossing. I had to be very self-encouraging to get across and probably looked ridiculous talking myself from one side to the other. It doesn't look like a big deal to most people but if you have a little vertigo, you may need to steel yourself for this.
7. Be prepared to take your time. If this was in the UK, there would be all sorts of rails, fences, signs and supports around but one of the charms of this place is that it's been left as natural as possible and this comes with a few potential dangers. Prevention will possibly mean saying goodbye to your dignity for a while if you want to complete the walk as safely as possible.
8. I would be concerned about taking a small child.
Written August 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sidder
West Chester, PA647 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
We had a lovely morning hike in the Parco. Here are a few thoughts:
1. Entry along stairs gives an idea of the grade.
2. The suspension bridge at the bottom of the valley is an easier destination and provides interesting view of the old town
3. After crossing the bridge, follow the hike to the top of the other side of the ravine. Follow pathway toward Sassi, and then down again so that you can see the carved out caves, follow path down to bridge.
4. Budget about 2 hours to walk the loop
1. Entry along stairs gives an idea of the grade.
2. The suspension bridge at the bottom of the valley is an easier destination and provides interesting view of the old town
3. After crossing the bridge, follow the hike to the top of the other side of the ravine. Follow pathway toward Sassi, and then down again so that you can see the carved out caves, follow path down to bridge.
4. Budget about 2 hours to walk the loop
Written June 30, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Titus D
Sri Lanka6,910 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
This is really something to do when visiting Matera and it is an extraordinary place. The nature around is beautiful and it's a fine experience to walk there to visit the remains but also to enjoy the view of beautiful Matera from the other side. We loved it.
This area and Matera itself is a photographers paradise, there are so many spectacular views, not to mention the ancient cave houses that pepper the limestone surroundings.A walk down into the ravine is a must for any visitor to Matera.
Along the way, check out the ancient caves, then look back to the incredible views of the Sassi. It is quite an easy walk with a small amount of climbing at the finish. Pull into the restaurant at the top of the path for a refreshment and recovery break.
From the city, walking out into the park looks complicated and strenuous. While it's definitely more than a stroll, the park is actually quite easy to navigate and it's not very hard to get to a magnificent view very quickly.
There is a bridge of rocks that takes you easily across the water. From there, there are paths that crisscross the hills and take you wherever you want to go.
Getting lost is not a worry because you can see everything around. I went up to the rocks across from the Sasso Barisano as there is no road that can take you to this spot by car.
At the top there was a cave church and a cave that were very neat to see. Mostly though, the view of Matera is spectacular.
I found directions in my lonely planet guide book telling me to take the stairs from a certain monastery that I could not find in google maps. Altereno Cafe is in the same spot (maybe in the building of the old Monastary.
You take the path down the near rim of the ravine. When you hit the floor you can go left or right, if you want to go up to the rim closer to Sasso Caveosa where you can see a lot of caves / grottoes up at the rim, go right and find a place to cross the river (there are no bridges, but there are places where the rocks make it easy to cross) you can then take one of two switchback paths up the far rim of the ravine.
To get to the rim closer to Sassp Barisano, take a left when you hit the floor of the ravine and follow the trail around the curve of the river. It is well worth a visit. You can then walk anywhere you fancy. Take care as there are some very steep drops.
This area and Matera itself is a photographers paradise, there are so many spectacular views, not to mention the ancient cave houses that pepper the limestone surroundings.A walk down into the ravine is a must for any visitor to Matera.
Along the way, check out the ancient caves, then look back to the incredible views of the Sassi. It is quite an easy walk with a small amount of climbing at the finish. Pull into the restaurant at the top of the path for a refreshment and recovery break.
From the city, walking out into the park looks complicated and strenuous. While it's definitely more than a stroll, the park is actually quite easy to navigate and it's not very hard to get to a magnificent view very quickly.
There is a bridge of rocks that takes you easily across the water. From there, there are paths that crisscross the hills and take you wherever you want to go.
Getting lost is not a worry because you can see everything around. I went up to the rocks across from the Sasso Barisano as there is no road that can take you to this spot by car.
At the top there was a cave church and a cave that were very neat to see. Mostly though, the view of Matera is spectacular.
I found directions in my lonely planet guide book telling me to take the stairs from a certain monastery that I could not find in google maps. Altereno Cafe is in the same spot (maybe in the building of the old Monastary.
You take the path down the near rim of the ravine. When you hit the floor you can go left or right, if you want to go up to the rim closer to Sasso Caveosa where you can see a lot of caves / grottoes up at the rim, go right and find a place to cross the river (there are no bridges, but there are places where the rocks make it easy to cross) you can then take one of two switchback paths up the far rim of the ravine.
To get to the rim closer to Sassp Barisano, take a left when you hit the floor of the ravine and follow the trail around the curve of the river. It is well worth a visit. You can then walk anywhere you fancy. Take care as there are some very steep drops.
Written February 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Me_n_my_rucksack
Yorkshire, UK6,100 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
Having been attracted to come to Matera not only by its fascinating history, but also by the chance to get some atmospheric photos of the place I was dissapointed by the fact that arriving by car there were no views of the gorgeous old town.
Did a bit of reasearch and found that this park is the place to go. You can hike down from the old town and cross a small footbridge or get to some excellent viewpoints by car (Leave Matera on the SS& heading for Taranto and a few Km out of town theres a small turning to the right to Belvedere Church or Belvedere point or something with Belvedere in it..... Anyway follow that small road upwards and eventually theres a free car park and voila - views !
We spent ages here admiring the old town and gettinp photographs - its very rocky and as its a steep sided valley there are very dangerous precipices so i would be fairly carefull when pottering about.
Our abiding memory of Matera.
Did a bit of reasearch and found that this park is the place to go. You can hike down from the old town and cross a small footbridge or get to some excellent viewpoints by car (Leave Matera on the SS& heading for Taranto and a few Km out of town theres a small turning to the right to Belvedere Church or Belvedere point or something with Belvedere in it..... Anyway follow that small road upwards and eventually theres a free car park and voila - views !
We spent ages here admiring the old town and gettinp photographs - its very rocky and as its a steep sided valley there are very dangerous precipices so i would be fairly carefull when pottering about.
Our abiding memory of Matera.
Written June 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fleur A
Sheffield, UK57 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
We took the “special bus” which was very cheap at only €1.50 each way and ran frequently but unfortunately only on Saturday and Sunday. However, it was well worth the wait for Saturday, spectacular views and good paths to spend a few hours exploring the caves and cave churches. We did not hire a guide and thoroughly enjoyed it. Would have liked to spend more time exploring on other days but the bus limited the opportunity. Hopefully the foot bridge will eventually re-open!
Written May 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PVJS345
Lima, Lima Region13 contributions
May 2018 • Family
Matera's Sassi is beautiful and there are superb walks and views from across the Gravina di Matera gorge. By road this is about 3 km from the centre of Matera. On foot from the Sassi you should be able to descend down steps from Via Madonna delle Virtu into the gorge, down a clear but rough path and cross the Ponte Tibetano della Gravina footbridge and up paths the other side to the viewpoint. At present, the access to the steps is closed for refurbishments (for 2019 when Matera is European city of Culture), and the bridge crossing is also blocked. Today (1 May) was a public holiday and public access by car to the car parks at the viewpoint (Belvedere) was blocked by a police car at the turn off on the Taranto-Laterza road. At a tourist info kiosk we were directed to a bus service (EUR 1.50 pp each way) running regularly from Matera station to the viewpoint car park.
At the car park there are quite good contoured map boards showing the main paths (worth taking a pic with you on the walk), but no warnings that the footbridge and path back to the Sassi are currently blocked. There are plenty of paths to explore the Chiese Rupestre and great views. You can easily spend the day wandering about. It is worth noting that the main car park, Bar and Centro Visite Jazzo Gattini are spread a few kms apaprt from each other so worth taking plenty of water and food.
We walked along a ridge just below the top of the gorge going roughly north as far as another minor gorge looking across to the Chiese Rupestre della Madonna Delle Virgeni, then back to the car park / bus stop and then roughly south towards Chiesa Rupestre della Madonna delle Croci.
At the car park there are quite good contoured map boards showing the main paths (worth taking a pic with you on the walk), but no warnings that the footbridge and path back to the Sassi are currently blocked. There are plenty of paths to explore the Chiese Rupestre and great views. You can easily spend the day wandering about. It is worth noting that the main car park, Bar and Centro Visite Jazzo Gattini are spread a few kms apaprt from each other so worth taking plenty of water and food.
We walked along a ridge just below the top of the gorge going roughly north as far as another minor gorge looking across to the Chiese Rupestre della Madonna Delle Virgeni, then back to the car park / bus stop and then roughly south towards Chiesa Rupestre della Madonna delle Croci.
Written May 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CWT
Ottawa, Canada338 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
We hiked down, crossed the bridge and hiked up the other side. Most groups were walking without guides. The start is easy to find - it’s at one end of the parking lot on Via Madonna delle Virtu. There is a signboard. You definitely need walking/running shoes. You will see some broken glass on the path and you scramble over rocks on some parts. I did not find the hike strenuous although I was nervous at certain points as there is nothing to stop you falling down the side if you lose your footing. That said, there are beautiful views and it was definitely worth the effort.
Written October 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
se sono visitabili le chiese di san falcione , di madonna delle tre porte e di sa vito
FatAl84
Guidonia Montecelio, Italy14,779 contributions
no, chiuse
Valentina T
6 contributions
Visiterò matera vorrei dei consigli su dove portare i bambini e se mi aiutate ad avere un itinerario visto che ci starò solo due giorni
Osvaldo M
San Mauro Torinese, Italy366 contributions
Consiglio per due giorni di soggiorno a Matera. Utilizzare una delle Agenzie Viaggi (noi abbiamo utilizzato Altieri Viaggi) con visita guidata a piedi per vedere il Sasso Barisano e il Sasso Caveoso; durata 2 o 3 ore ma veramente ben spese con spiegazioni e ingressi nelle chiese rupestri e case grotta. Il resto della giornata passeggiare per la città alla scoperta di vicoli e punti panoramici come la Piazza del Duomo oppure il Parco del Castello di Tramontano dove i bambini si possono divertire e gli adulti osservare un panorama diverso di Matera.
Il giorno successivo visita al Parco della Murgia Materana, sempre con guida, per ammirare lo spettacolare panorama di Matera dal "Golgota" di Mel Gibson e visita alla chiese rupestri affrescate. Ci si và in autobus e la visita è anche quì di circa due ore.
Giorgia g
2 contributions
Salve è indispensabile andare con una guida o ci si può organizzare da soli ? Ci devo andare fra poco ma non ho molti giorni a disposizione. Ho già la guida per il tour di Matera ma mi faceva piacere una passeggiata nella Murgia per il panorama .
gianni_rang1
Udine, Italy1,033 contributions
Potenzialmente si può andare da soli, ma il terreno impervio e la mancanza di sentieri messi su carta rende difficoltosa la gita. Meglio agire in sicurezza girando con una guida. Al buio poi è anche difficile orientarsi e si può finire in qualche buco...
In ogni caso bella gita...
Divertitevi!!!
Come posso arrivare a piedi al Parco della Murgia dal centro di Matera (lato Sassi)?
È previsto un biglietto di ingressograzie.
donatella lussi
Brescia, Italy22 contributions
Non è previsto un biglietto,sul posto c'è qualcuno disponibile a fare da guida e a cui si dà una pancetta volentieri,per arrivarci è necessario àndare in auto facendosi aiutare dal navigatore
Margaret S
Napier, New Zealand553 contributions
A trip advisor post said that you can catch a bus from the Matera railway station across the ravine for E1.5 or E3 return. Has anyone recently done this? We've only a couple of hours and dont want a private driver at E100 and it seems that the walking track there is closed. Any updates before Sept 2019 would be appreciated
Fleur A
Sheffield, UK57 contributions
Yes we did this on Saturday 11 May. The bus only runs on Saturday and Sunday, it costs €1.50 each way and you can buy tickets on the bus. It leaves from the bus station and runs every 30 mins from 9am. It states “Belvedere” as destination. Well worth it!
MinervaRoma
Buenos Aires, Argentina379 contributions
Hola.
Voy con auto y llevo el equipaje en el baùl. Es seguro el parking?
JanexLamar
Blacksburg, VA57 contributions
daymoLiverpool, Thanks so much for this post! We are in Matera without a car, and want to do some walking in the Parco della Murgia Materana, but are frustrated because the path to the bridge is closed. There are dozens of "tourist information" places in town who would like to sell us a (quite expensive) tour there, many of which only spend 30 minutes in the park. We just want a ride over there, walk around, and a ride back! No "tourist information" place here has told us of this bus you mention.
If we go to Matera Centrale train station, can we find this bus? Can you tell me any more about what the bus is called, and when the last ride back to Matera Sassi Barisano might be?
If it had not been for your post, we would have missed one of the main things we have come to Matera for! Thanks again.
JanexLamar
Blacksburg, VA57 contributions
We eventually hired a guide for 100 euro to spend two hours, but his narrative was terrific, and he gave us access to three locked stone churches that have fantastic frescoes. He pointed out a bus to us as we were leaving the park- "That's the public bus you could have taken." It's possible he was not right about that- there was nothing we could do to find it.
Matthijs
The Hague, The Netherlands37 contributions
Next month I'll spend a couple of days in Matera. I've read that both the Ponte Tibetano and the path down the ravine (from Via Madonna delle virtù) are still closed.. I don't have a car and would like to visit Parco della Murgia Materana. Preferably without a guide so I can take all the time I want. Is there any way to reach the other side of the ravine on foot, or should I call a taxi?
Tiziana
Rome, Italy97 contributions
i apologize to you, but i read only today your question! It's too late for answer, in any case you can go to the murgia by feet, you can climb the mountain. In this way you can visit a lot of churches "chiese rupestri" located over the mountain.
j hope you loved Matera!!!
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Frequently Asked Questions about Parco della Murgia Materana
- We recommend booking Parco della Murgia Materana tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 8 Parco della Murgia Materana tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Parco della Murgia Materana:
- Guided Tour of Parco Murgia (From $27.29)
- Murgia Materana Park Tour (From $32.74)
- Sassi and Murgia walk by electric bike (From $28.00)
- Food and Wine Tour between the Patriarchs Olives and the Oil Temples (From $38.19)
- Sunrise Bike Tour on the Murgia Park with Breakfast (From $21.83)
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- (0.01 mi) Vrbo Property
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- Restaurants near Parco della Murgia Materana:
- (0.01 mi) La Talpa
- (0.01 mi) Trattoria Braceria Bellavista di Fedele Manicone
- (0.02 mi) Pietra Viva
- (0.02 mi) Happy Hour O'llammord
- (0.03 mi) MeatLovers
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