Belvedere Murgia Timone

The most beautiful views of the Sassi di Matera

Walking through the alleyways of the Sassi di Matera is an unforgettable experience, but you can also admire this ancient city from another unmissable site: the Belvedere Murgia Timone observation deck, on the opposite side of the ravine overlooked by the village. From here, you are treated to spectacular views of the cave dwellings and canyon carved into the rock.

We recommend visiting early in the morning, when the sun lights up the city from the east, outlining the blue sky, or at sunset, when the sky is set ablaze and the lights turn on, creating a fairy-tale landscape.

The Belvedere is part of the Archaeological Park of the Rock Churches of Materano, where you can explore a Neolithic village, the 9th-century church of San Falcione and the frescoed church of the Madonna delle Tre Porte, in a cave under the Belvedere.

You can arrive by car or walk the path 406 among wild thyme bushes as lesser kestrels soar above. The route begins at Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the central square of Matera, before descending along the steps to Porta Pistola and into the ravine. You can reach the opposite side by crossing a wooden bridge.