Caves are an adventure for children. Steps and unsecured edges are the opposite – with a little planning the two go together.
What goes down well
A furnished cave dwelling: here it becomes tangible that children like them lived in this one room with a mule and chickens. Likewise the large cistern beneath the square – an underground hall that once held water.
Moving about
Short paths on the plateau rather than the descent into the gorge: from the viewpoints of the Murgia you see the whole city without anyone having to be carried.
What to watch for
The Sassi consist of steps – a pushchair is nearly useless here, a carrier the better choice. In many places there are no railings, especially at the terrace edges. In summer the slope has no shade.
Breaks
Ice cream, courtyards and Piazza Vittorio Veneto with its benches make good interruptions. And caves are pleasantly cool when it gets too hot above ground.
Read on
- What can you do in Matera? – the overview
- The lanes of the Sassi – which routes are manageable
