Shopping Tour in Matera

Free Shopping Tour in Matera with Roamee Pro

Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free shopping tour route in Matera. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Casa Grotta — This restored cave dwelling in the Sasso Caveoso preserves the living conditions of a typical Sassi family through the mid-20th century, when an entire family and their livestock shared a single cave room of roughly 15 square meters. The exhibit includes original furniture, tools, and a manger where the family mule was kept inside the dwelling — its body heat helped warm the space in winter. The reconstruction vividly illustrates why the Italian government ordered the Sassi evacuated in 1952., plus hidden gems like Chiese Rupestri — Over 150 rock-hewn churches are scattered through the ravine walls and plateaus surrounding Matera, many containing Byzantine and medieval frescoes dating from the 8th to 13th centuries. The Church of Santa Maria de Idris, carved into the conical Monte Errone rock, offers both ancient frescoes and stunning views. Many of these cave churches were used by Benedictine and Basilian monks and preserve rare examples of early medieval religious art in southern Italy. and Murgia Materana — The opposite side of the Gravina ravine is a protected regional park offering hiking trails through a rocky Mediterranean landscape to panoramic viewpoints looking back across to the Sassi. The Belvedere della Murgia, accessible via a short trail from the road, provides the iconic postcard view of the entire ancient city. The park also contains several cave churches and Neolithic rock shelters accessible on foot..

Use this page as a starting point for a Matera walking tour, a free route, or the Roamee app for Matera. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.

• •Casa Grotta — This restored cave dwelling in the Sasso Caveoso preserves the living conditions of a typical Sassi family through the mid-20th century, when an entire family and their livestock shared a single cave room of roughly 15 square meters. The exhibit includes original furniture, tools, and a manger where the family mule was kept inside the dwelling — its body heat helped warm the space in winter. The reconstruction vividly illustrates why the Italian government ordered the Sassi evacuated in 1952.

• •Chiese Rupestri — Over 150 rock-hewn churches are scattered through the ravine walls and plateaus surrounding Matera, many containing Byzantine and medieval frescoes dating from the 8th to 13th centuries. The Church of Santa Maria de Idris, carved into the conical Monte Errone rock, offers both ancient frescoes and stunning views. Many of these cave churches were used by Benedictine and Basilian monks and preserve rare examples of early medieval religious art in southern Italy.
• •Murgia Materana — The opposite side of the Gravina ravine is a protected regional park offering hiking trails through a rocky Mediterranean landscape to panoramic viewpoints looking back across to the Sassi. The Belvedere della Murgia, accessible via a short trail from the road, provides the iconic postcard view of the entire ancient city. The park also contains several cave churches and Neolithic rock shelters accessible on foot.

• ›Hit markets early for the best selection and late for the best prices — vendors discount perishables and bulky items rather than pack them up.
• ›Know the haggling norm before you start: in souks and flea markets it's expected, in fixed-price boutiques it's rude. When in doubt, ask politely.
• ›Buy what's actually made locally — ceramics, textiles, food, craft — not mass-produced souvenirs that ship from the same factory worldwide.
• ›Use Casa Grotta as a landmark, then explore the side streets around it where independent shops and workshops cluster away from the chain stores.
• ›Carry a foldable tote and small cash, and if you're a visitor, ask about VAT/tax-refund forms for larger purchases before you pay.