Historic Site · Matera, Italy
Sassi di Matera
The Sassi di Matera are two districts (Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano) of the Italian city of Matera, Basilicata, well-known for their ancient cave dwellings inhabited since the Paleolithic period.
Photo: Bönisch via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 de. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Matera, Italy |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Area | Area: 10.16 km² |
| Coordinates | 40.6667° N, 16.6083° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Sassi di Matera is known for
The Sassi di Matera are two districts (Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano) of the Italian city of Matera, Basilicata, well-known for their ancient cave dwellings inhabited since the Paleolithic period.
About Sassi di Matera
The Sassi di Matera are two districts (Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano) of the Italian city of Matera, Basilicata, well-known for their ancient cave dwellings inhabited since the Paleolithic period. The "Sassi" have been described by Fodor's as "one of the most unique landscapes in Europe". Along with the park of the Rupestrian Churches, it was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.
History
The Sassi originate from a prehistoric troglodyte settlement and are suspected to be among the first human settlements in Italy. There is evidence that people were living here as early as the year 7000 BC. The Sassi are houses dug into the calcarenitic rock itself, which is characteristic of Basilicata and Apulia, locally called "tufo", though it is neither volcanic tuff, nor tufa limestone.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Sassi di Matera website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Matera |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Bari / Palese International Airport (BRI) |
| Distance from the airport | 33.3 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Bari Karol Wojtyła International Airport (BRI) · Bari, Italy · 33.6 miles away
- Brindisi Airport (BDS) · Brindisi, Italy · 70.2 miles away
- Naples International Airport (NAP) · Napoli, Italy · 122.2 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Italy
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Sassi di Matera?
The Sassi di Matera are two districts (Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano) of the Italian city of Matera, Basilicata, well-known for their ancient cave dwellings inhabited since the Paleolithic period.
Where is Sassi di Matera located?
Sassi di Matera is in Matera, Italy. Its coordinates are 40.6667° N, 16.6083° E.
How do I get to Sassi di Matera?
The nearest town is Matera, and the nearest airport is Bari / Palese International Airport (BRI), about 33.3 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Sassi di Matera?
The Sassi originate from a prehistoric troglodyte settlement and are suspected to be among the first human settlements in Italy. There is evidence that people were living here as early as the year 7000 BC.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassi_di_Matera — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2350404 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.sassidimatera.it — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.