Sasso Caveoso
On Gingerguide's self-guided Matera audio tour, Sasso Caveoso is a stop worth about ~90 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~90 min
- Matera Matera guide
About Sasso Caveoso
The lower and more ancient of Matera's two cave districts, with the most dramatic ravine views, the oldest rock churches with Byzantine frescoes, and the raw, unrestored character of the ancient sassi settlement.
The Sasso Caveoso is the lower of Matera's two ancient cave districts, running along the southern side of the Gravina gorge with views across to the rocky hillside of the Murgia Materana plateau opposite. It is generally considered the more ancient, more rugged, and less restored of the two sassi, its cave churches, cut from the rock in the Byzantine period, still contain the remains of medieval frescoes, and many of the cave dwellings retain their original character more completely than the more tourist-oriented Sasso Barisano. The churches of Santa Maria de Idris (on a rocky outcrop above the ravine) and Santa Lucia alle Malve (at the lower edge of the Caveoso) are the best-known of the many rock churches in this district.
Did you know? The word 'sassi' simply means 'stones' or 'rocks' in southern Italian dialect. The cave districts of Matera are called sassi because they were literally carved from the stone of the ravine walls, the inhabitants dug their homes out of the rock and then, in many cases, used the excavated rock to build walls across the front of the cave.
How much time do you need at Sasso Caveoso?
Around ~90 min works well for Sasso Caveoso — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Sasso Caveoso?
Yes — Sasso Caveoso made the cut as one of 15 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Matera. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Matera
Hear the story of Sasso Caveoso
Preview the Matera tour free in the Gingerguide app.