Santa Maria de Idris and San Giovanni in Monterrone are two connected rock-hewn churches in Matera, carved into a limestone outcrop above the Sasso Caveoso. The small façade of Santa Maria de Idris rises from the rock, while a passage leads into the more cave-like spaces of San Giovanni.
The churches are part of Matera’s long tradition of rupestrian worship, when religious communities shaped chapels and monasteries from the local stone. Their surviving frescoes span different periods and include figures of saints and the Madonna; some show the influence of Byzantine devotional art. The paintings are fragmentary, but their traces make the interiors rewarding to look at closely.
A visit pairs quiet, rough-cut chambers with a striking setting. From the approach around the outcrop, look over the stacked houses and cave façades of the Sasso Caveoso and across the ravine towards the Murgia plateau. Together, the churches offer a glimpse of how faith and daily life developed within Matera’s rocky landscape.
Approach on foot from Piazza San Pietro Caveoso and wear shoes with good grip: the stone paths and steps can be uneven. Check current opening hours and ticket arrangements before visiting, and observe any photography restrictions inside. In summer, an early visit makes the climb more comfortable.