The rock churches of Matera are holy spaces that were carved straight from large rocks. However, it is easy to mistake these structures for large amorphous boulders. They are said to be the work of Byzantine monks from the 15th century. Inside them, you will find rupestrian frescoes that delight the eyes as the soft light pours into the cavernous interiors.

At the highest point of the ridge that separates the two Sassi in Matera stands the towering, pale yellow structure of the Matera Cathedral. Dedicated to the protector of the city Saint Eustace, the church was constructed in the 13 century. In the center of its simple yet elegant facade is a rose window and behind it, a large 170 ft. bell tower. Inside you will find delightful interiors, Byzantine frescoes, and gold-gilded stucco moldings.

Stroll the narrow and winding streets of the ancient city of Matera until you reach the hermetic buildings in the center of Sasso Caveso. The houses here are small and layered onto top of each other against the hillside giving them a Post-classical appearance. The caverns here are so visually stunning that they have been used as locations for filming as in 'The Passion of Christ' by Mel Gibson and 'OO7: No Time to Die'. You may also find various grottoed shops and restaurants in this area.

Visit one of Matera's traditional cave houses that are said to have been dwellings of troglodytes for millennia. Cave houses such as the Casa Grotta Cera Una Volta and the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario are limestone cave dwellings that have been refurbished for public exhibitions. They lend unique insight into the lives of the former inhabitants of Matera. You will see how they conducted domestic life and arranged their household items and even cattle in their cavernous homes!

If you follow the ravine that cuts through the Murgia Plateau, you will find several natural caves that look like gaping black holes on the mountainside. There is one, however, that is of great archaeological and artistic interest - The Crypt of Original Sin. Discovered in 1963, this cave was said to be inhabited by monks in the 8th century who left beautiful frescoes. The themes of the Creator, Light and Darkness, and Adam and Eve are rendered on the rough walls of the cave.