Matera

I am spending one night coming from Bari. I think it would not do the location justice as a day trip.
Plus in Italy in May the lovely light of afternoon to evening when the day trippers have left is the best part of staying at least one night. My accommodation has agreed to allow be to leave my bags as early as 10 am which gives me more time in Matera.

We spent 2 nights in Matera last mid-October coming from Lecce enroute to Paestum so had 1 1/2 days to explore Matera and it was perfect. In my preplanning I had 1 night for Matera but ended up dropping a night off Lecce to 4 and adding another night to Matera which I am glad I did. The sassi are beautiful lit up at night and there is a lively evening passeggiata. Matera is the E.U. Capital of Culture for 2019 so there were cranes dotting the "skyline." We had beautiful dry, fall weather with temps very warm when we were here. Even if you can only give Matera 1 night I would go. You could still see the sassi, visit several rupestrian/rock churches and the duomo and walk the town. Lots of good info on this website: http://www.sassiweb.it/ Enjoy Matera!

We spent 2 nights in Matera and glad we did. The lit up sasis are very magical at night.

This past September we spent three nights in Matera and enjoyed each one of them. Matera is one of the most unique places on earth. We just browsed, walked, drank cappuccinos, and generally, just took it easy. WE stayed in the Sassi section and our hotel was the Palazzo degli Abati and it was a fantastic choice.

Buon viaggio,

I am learning that one night is not enough anywhere in Italy! Please stay two nights in Matera/Sassi and enjoy this magnificent city!

You could spend several days and have plenty to do, but I would stay no less than two nights in Matera. A lot depends on if you will have a car and what your other plans are.