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Day Trips from Matera

Posted by (New Jersey ) on

Doing 10 days in southern Italy as a couple. Found an amazing Hotel in Matera and was thinking of staying there two nights but didn't know if there was enough to do in Matera for three days. We prefer being on the move on vacation as oppose to just relaxing in one place. We plan on traveling down to the Lecce and Puglia either before or after Matera.

(1) Is Matera a one night kinda town/What are the best things to do in Matera besides exploring the Sassi neighborhood?;

(2) Does it make sense to pick Matera as a mini base and do day trips from Matera?;

(3) What are the best towns for day trips from Matera?

We are renting a car. I haven't driven in Italy but consider myself a very good driver who is used to driving in NYC. I also don't mind driving 1 to 2 hours for a day trip. We get up early and don't drink. So we don't mind be on the road by 8:00am.

Posted by
4603 posts

I enjoyed a day trip to nearby Laterza, where I walked along a gorge known for raptors (google Oasis LIPU Gravine di Laterza if interested). Also highly recommend a trip to Craco, where you can tour an abandoned village--really fascinating.
I have not been, but Altamura is nearby, also a large park, alta Murgia.
Some enjoy visiting pretty little Bernalda, where Francis Ford Coppola has an expensive boutique hotel.
Some go to Castelmezzano for dizzying mountains (and a zip line--not for me!).
RE Matera, you certainly want at least one full day (two nights). The partial days can be used to stop somewhere en route (though take care with luggage in the trunk). The sassi is not particularly large, but it is so windy that a full day will not be too much. We did a tour for a couple hours (Antonio of Matera Tour Guides). With a car, you can easily go to the park across the gorge where many cave churches can be visited with a guide.
Matera is lovely and I treasure my two visits and would gladly go back a third time!

Posted by
11367 posts

Matera is in Basilicata and worth a few days. Puglia includes Lecce and many other wonderful towns, cities, villages. We stayed right on the Adriatic Sea in Polignano a Mare, beautiful and well located for day trips in the region. Ostuni, Alberobello, Otranto,Bari, Lecce, etc

Posted by
2213 posts

Be sure to get detailed instructions from your hotel on how to drive to it. It's tricky in Matera!

Posted by
15 posts

I just left Matera a few days ago and did not find it windy at all. I would stay 2 nights and try to book the crypts across from the Sassi in advance. We had a car and there is a nice parking garage just 2 blocks off the Sassi @ .50 euros/hr.

We are now outside of Ostuni for 4 days doing day trips to Lecce, Alberobello, Ostuni. I was under whelmed by Lecce and could have spent more time in the Itria Valley.

Have a good trip, Dan!

Posted by
6 posts

Gail, can you provide more detail? Crypts? What's the name of the hotel? Parking lot? Where abouts and or what's the name?

Posted by
1740 posts

Gravina in Puglia is an easy drive from Matera and has a nice atmosphere, interesting sights, and a fascinating setting. Part of the next James Bond film was shot there last summer. https://www.wanderingitaly.com/maps/gravina-puglia.html
The park of Alta Murgia is too difficult to appreciate in a short visit though there are nice landscapes if you drive through it. We didn't find the town of Altamura to be nearly as tasty as the bread.

Posted by
1740 posts

purchasepaul74 If you put 'Matera Italy parking' into Google Maps it will show you all the possibilities many with reviews - though mostly in Italian.

Posted by
1740 posts

Daniel Craig gives a fast (!) tour of Gravina in Puglia in this just released trailer for 'No Time to Die'. The narrow bridge / acqueduct that's shown is from the late 1600's. https://youtu.be/BIhNsAtPbPI

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