Matera sits at 401 metres on the edge of the Murgia, and you notice it in the weather: summers are hot and dry, winters mild, but noticeably cool in the shady lanes of the Sassi. At the top you will find the next few days, below that the averages for the year and a few tips for planning your trip.
The next few days
The forecast above this page looks nine days ahead and is updated several times a day. The first three to four days are reliable; anything after that is a trend – especially in summer, when a single thunderstorm over the Murgia will not show up in any forecast.
The year at a glance
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 9 °C | 3 °C |
| February | 10 °C | 3 °C |
| March | 13 °C | 5 °C |
| April | 17 °C | 8 °C |
| May | 22 °C | 12 °C |
| June | 27 °C | 16 °C |
| July | 31 °C | 18 °C |
| August | 31 °C | 19 °C |
| September | 27 °C | 16 °C |
| October | 20 °C | 12 °C |
| November | 15 °C | 8 °C |
| December | 12 °C | 5 °C |
Rain falls almost exclusively in the winter half of the year, from late autumn to spring. Summers are distinctly dry; weeks without rain are normal, with only the occasional afternoon thunderstorm passing through. Snow is rare and hardly ever settles.
When to come
- April to June: The best time. Pleasantly warm, the Murgia is in bloom and the evenings are balmy.
- July and August: Regularly above 30 degrees, often more. The tuff stone stores the heat and releases it again in the evening, so the Sassi stay warm until late. Plan sightseeing for early morning or after 5 pm.
- September and October: Almost as lovely as spring, and the water on the Ionian coast is still warm.
- November to March: Mild, but the wettest time of year. In return the Sassi are empty, and the rock churches look especially striking in the winter light.
What to pack
- Sturdy shoes with good grip. The Sassi are made of steps and polished stone – slippery when wet.
- Sun protection and water. There is hardly any shade between the pale stone walls, and in summer the UV index is often 8 or higher.
- A light jacket, even in summer: in the cave dwellings and rock churches it is a cool 15 degrees or so all year round.
- In winter, a rain jacket rather than an umbrella. It is often windy in the narrow lanes, and an umbrella gets in the way on steps.
Forecast: MET Norway (Norwegian Meteorological Institute), licence CC BY 4.0. Climate averages: Matera weather station, 1961–1990.
