Rupestrian Churches Matera Park Tour

Explore the national park home to around 150 ancient rock-hewn cave churches on this guided tour of Murgia Park in Matera, the European Capital of Culture for 2019.

Rupestrian Churches Matera Park Tour

Meet your guide in Via Alessando Volta, in the heart of Matera, and head into the national park known as the Murgia Materana, or the Park of Rock Churches.

In this UNESCO World Heritage Site, your first stop will be the archaeological remains of a Neolithic town, where you will learn about the daily life of the region's historic inhabitants. Discover the ruins of farms, sheep pens known as "jazzo", water tanks, and wells that have persisted over thousands of years.

You will then visit some of the 150 Rupestrian churches which are primarily from the Middle Ages. First, explore the Church of San Falcione, known for its 9th century frescoes.

Next, you will tour the Church of Madonna delle Tre Porte, where your English-speaking guide will explain its historic significance.

The walking tour will conclude at a viewpoint made famous by Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ, offering a panoramic photo opportunity of Matera's historic centre before returning by bus.

How long is the walking tour?

The excursion covers a route of around 4 kilometres (about 2.5 miles), approximately a 50-minute walk, with the guide adjusting the pace to your group's needs.

Temporary Closures

Due to rehabilitation work on the rock churches, visits to the churches in the itinerary will be suspended. Instead, you will enter the church of Santa Maria della Palomba, a 16th-century sanctuary.