A city of warm stone where the terraces glow in the evening – Matera makes it easy.
The right hours
Everything that makes this city romantic happens at the edges of the day: early in the morning when the lanes are empty, and in the hour after sunset when the sky is still bright and the lighting is already on.
Where to stay
A room in the rock with a view of the Gravina costs more than one in the upper town – and is the reason many people come at all. If you are planning that, book early; the houses are small.
Where to eat
There are a number of places with a terrace above the gorge, and they are in demand in the evening. The quieter addresses lie in the upper lanes of the Sasso Barisano.
What to do
Not much. A walk through the lit Sassi, a glass of Aglianico on a terrace, the view from the opposite slope after dark. More programme tends to spoil it.
Read on
- Sunrise and sunset in Matera – the best hours
- Viewpoints in Matera – where to look from in the evening
