Why Matera?
Matera is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world — the Sassi (the cave districts) have been lived in for 9,000+ years. After WWII the Sassi were emptied due to poverty; in the 1990s they were restored, and Matera became European Capital of Culture in 2019. Today it's a quiet, beautiful city of about 60,000 with surprisingly fast internet and a small but growing nomad community. Rent is the cheapest of any city on this list. The catch: it's far from anywhere — Bari is 90 minutes by bus, Naples 4 hours.
Neighbourhoods to know
- Sassi (Sasso Caveoso, Sasso Barisano). The cave districts — UNESCO-listed, atmospheric. Some restored cave-houses are available as long-term rentals; expect quirky layouts.
- Civita. The hilltop above the Sassi, with the cathedral — the highest point in town.
- Centro storico (Piano). The 'modern' centre on the plateau above the Sassi — more standard apartments, ATMs, supermarkets.
- Borgo Venusio. Modern residential outskirts — much cheaper apartments.
Coworking
- Casa Netural. Matera's main coworking — small, internationally-minded, with a residency programme.
- CoWo Matera. Central coworking near the Sassi.
- Officine Culturali Sassi. Cultural-creative space with desks.
Things to do
- Walk the Sassi at golden hour and again at dawn — the limestone glows; few cities have a more cinematic pre-dawn quiet.
- Visit a casa-grotta — a restored cave-house showing how families lived in the Sassi until the 1950s.
- Hike across the Gravina (the ravine) into the Murgia natural park — cliffside churches and rupestrian frescoes.
- Day-trip to Alberobello (90 min) for the trulli, or to the Pollino national park for hiking.
Practical tip
Matera's Sassi are spectacular but the steps and uneven cobblestones are hard on suitcases — a backpack works much better. Many cave-rentals don't have a full kitchen; check before committing to a long stay.
Cost figures are estimates as of 2026 and vary by neighbourhood and season. Always cross-check current rents on Idealista and Immobiliare.it.