Piazza San Pietro Caveoso is an open stone square on the edge of Matera’s Sasso Caveoso, overlooking the Gravina ravine. Less formal than a grand Italian piazza, it is a natural pause on a walk through the Sassi, with cave dwellings climbing the slopes behind it and the Murgia plateau across the gorge.
The square takes its name from the church of San Pietro Caveoso, whose Baroque façade faces the piazza. Above it, the rock church of Santa Maria de Idris rises from the limestone spur of Monterrone, a striking example of the sacred spaces carved into Matera’s rock. The Sassi were largely evacuated in the 1950s because of poor living conditions; today, the districts and their rock churches form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit for the combination of architecture and scenery: pale stone houses, church towers and the deep ravine come together in one view. Early morning is quieter, while late afternoon brings warmer light to the limestone. There is little shade, so summer visitors may want to avoid the hottest part of the day. The square is accessible on foot from Matera’s historic centre, but wear shoes with good grip for the uneven lanes and steps, especially after rain.