Casa Grotta nei Sassi

Casa Grotta nei Sassi is a stone dwelling carved into rock in the Sasso Caveoso neighborhood that reveals how people lived there until the mid-20th century. The small house consists of a single room with a hearth in the center, bed frames with corn-straw mattresses, iron bed structures, and an adjacent section for animals and storage.

The house was carved into rock long ago and last modified in the 18th century. It remained inhabited until 1956, when a law required the evacuation of all residents from the Sassi neighborhoods, displacing many families.

The name refers to the cave-dwelling tradition carved into the rock, typical of the Sassi neighborhoods. Visitors see how families shared a single space with animals, and everyday objects on display reveal the practical ingenuity people developed to live with limited resources.

The museum is open daily year-round and is easily reached on foot through the narrow lanes of Sasso Caveoso near the church of San Pietro Caveoso. Visitors are welcome to take photographs and can listen to explanations in multiple languages, with tours lasting about 20 minutes.

The house was inhabited by a family of 11 people who shared the space with a mule and other animals while also storing manure as an additional heat source. Visitors can still see how scrap materials like old tires were repurposed into practical household items, reflecting the resource scarcity of that era.

Location: Matera

Address: Vicinato di vico Solitario

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 09:30-18:00

Phone: +390835310118

Website: https://casagrotta.it

GPS coordinates: 40.66385,16.61233

Latest update: January 12, 2026 10:17