Cave churches in Matera, Archaeological site in Matera, Italy.

The cave churches of Matera consist of roughly 155 rock sanctuaries carved into limestone cliffs, scattered across the Sassi neighborhoods and Murgia Park, linked by ancient pathways and stone stairs. These spaces were hollowed directly from natural stone to serve as places of worship with simple, functional layouts.

The cave churches of Matera were founded mainly in the early Middle Ages, carved into the rock by communities of Benedictine, Lombard and Byzantine monks. In the Middle Ages small groups of laypeople and monks who had migrated from Cappadocia, Armenia, Syria and Asia Minor, having lost their places of worship, took refuge in these caves and decorated them with Byzantine frescoes. Over time many were converted into dwellings or animal shelters.

The rock churches display Byzantine frescoes and religious imagery painted directly onto the stone walls. You can see how Eastern and Western artistic traditions merged together in these decorated spaces.

You need sturdy footwear as the stone pathways and stairs are steep and uneven throughout the site. Guided tours typically begin at Piazza Vittorio Veneto, where you can get information about the best routes to explore.

The sources list over 150 rock churches in Matera's territory, among them Santa Maria de Armenis, whose name recalls the Armenian community that settled in these caves. Many later served as dwellings or animal shelters, so a carved cross or a fresco layer can survive above a stable door. Look for traces of reuse on the walls.