The Murgia Materana Park of the Rock Churches stretches across a limestone plateau opposite Matera’s Sassi, separated from the old city by the deep Gravina gorge. This protected regional park is a landscape of ravines, grassland and caves, with walking trails that reveal traces of human settlement going back thousands of years.
More than a hundred rock-hewn churches are scattered through the park. Many were carved in the Middle Ages by monastic communities, and some retain faded frescoes of saints and the Madonna. Alongside prehistoric settlements, cisterns and farmsteads, they tell the story of a landscape shaped by both worship and everyday work. The park forms part of Matera’s UNESCO World Heritage site, together with the Sassi.
The plateau is also one of the best places to see Matera from a distance: late-afternoon light brings out the pale stone of the Sassi across the gorge. Spring brings wildflowers to the grasslands, and birdwatchers can look for the lesser kestrel. Trails range from short walks near the viewpoints to more demanding routes into the Gravina.
Spring and autumn are comfortable times to visit; in summer, go early or near sunset to avoid the strongest heat. Wear sturdy shoes, carry water and take care on uneven rock and near unfenced edges. Some rock churches are locked or accessible only with a guide, so check access in advance; conditions on the gorge crossing can also change.