Casa Cava is a former stone quarry in Matera’s Sasso Barisano, transformed into an underground cultural venue. Its pale, chiselled walls rise around a performance space carved into the rock, with quarry marks still visible in the stone. The effect is both monumental and intimate: a reminder that the Sassi were shaped as much by excavation as by construction.
The quarry is part of Matera’s long relationship with calcarenite, the local stone often called tuff. Blocks cut from the area were used to build the city’s houses and churches, while the excavated spaces became part of its distinctive landscape. Restored for cultural use, Casa Cava reflects the wider renewal of the Sassi, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
It is worth visiting for the scale of the hollow and the chance to see an old working space given a new purpose. Concerts and performances make use of its notable acoustics; even without an event, the cut stone offers a different perspective on Matera’s architecture and history.
Casa Cava is within walking distance of Piazza Vittorio Veneto, though the lanes through Sasso Barisano can be steep, uneven and stepped, so wear sturdy shoes. Check opening times and public access before visiting, as they may vary around events. The interior can feel cool, making a light layer useful even in warmer weather.