Rupestrian Churches Matera Park Tour

Explore the national park home to around 150 ancient rock-hewn caves 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, to head into the Murgia Materana national park, known for its rock churches. Entering the UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will first visit the archaeological remains of a Neolithic town, learning about the daily life of the region's historic inhabitants, mainly shepherds and hunters. Discover the ruins of farms, sheep pens known as "jazzo," water tanks, and wells that have lasted thousands of years.

Next, explore some of the 150 rock-hewn churches for which Murgia Materana Park is known, primarily built in the Middle Ages. Your tour includes the Church of San Falcione, one of the oldest cave churches in Matera, known for its entirely rock-carved structure and 9th-century frescoes. Following that, visit the Church of Madonna delle Tre Porte, where your English-speaking guide will discuss its historic value.

Your walking tour will end at a viewpoint used by Mel Gibson for a scene in The Passion of the Christ, offering a chance for panoramic photos of Matera's historic center before returning to the city by bus.

How long is the walking tour?

The excursion involves a route of approximately 4 kilometers (about 2.5 miles - around a 50-minute walk). The guide will adjust the pace to suit the group’s needs.

Temporary Closures

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