Morning: Your journey begins in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the "floor" of the modern city that hides surprises underground. Visit Palombaro Lungo, a huge underground water cistern known as the "Water Cathedral," navigable via suspended walkways. From here, look out over the "Luigi Guerricchio" viewpoint for your first breathtaking view of the Sassi. Then descend and explore Sasso Barisano, the most renovated and elegant part, admiring the decorated portals and facades built into the rock.
Lunch: Stop at a trattoria carved into the rock for a typical Lucanian appetizer: try Peperoni Cruschi (dried and fried sweet peppers, incredibly crunchy), pezzente sausage, and local cheeses like caciocavallo podolico.
Afternoon: Climb up to the Civita, the highest and most fortified part of the old city, to visit the majestic Cathedral of the Madonna della Bruna in Apulian Romanesque style. Stroll along Via Duomo and enjoy the sunset from Piazza Duomo: from here, the view opens onto the Sasso Barisano on one side and the rugged Sasso Caveoso on the other, as the city begins to light up like a living nativity scene.

Morning: Spend the morning in the Sasso Caveoso, the most authentic and "empty" part of the city, which retains the appearance of a natural amphitheater. Climb the Monterrone rock to visit the rock churches of Santa Maria de Idris and San Giovanni in Monterrone: inside, you'll find priceless Byzantine frescoes. Also visit a furnished cave house (there are several open to visitors) to understand how large families lived with their animals until the 1950s.
Lunch: Enjoy a plate of Orecchiette or Strascinati with turnip tops or "la mollica" (fried stale bread), a classic of peasant cuisine.
Afternoon: Reach the bottom of the valley in Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, right on the edge of the ravine (the Gravina). Visit the church of the same name and stroll along the scenic road that runs along the canyon. If you love contemporary art in a unique setting, visit MUSMA (Museum of Contemporary Sculpture), unique in the world because it is set entirely inside underground caves.

Morning: Change your perspective and admire Matera from afar. Head to the Belvedere di Murgia Timone (in the Murgia Materana Park, on the other side of the canyon). It's where many scenes from Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" were filmed and offers the most famous and comprehensive panoramic view of the city. Here, you can also explore Neolithic villages and ancient pastoral churches carved into the rock.
Lunch: Opt for a light meal of Cialledda, a fresh salad made with soaked stale Matera bread, tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers, perfect for a refreshing dip.
Afternoon: Conclude your trip with an absolute gem (a few kilometers by car or taxi are required): the Crypt of Original Sin. Known as the "Sistine Chapel of rock art," it is a cave frescoed in the 9th century with biblical scenes of extraordinary vivacity and colors still intact. On your return, take a final stroll around the artisan shops to purchase a Bread Stamp (symbol of Matera families) or the typical terracotta whistle in the shape of a rooster (the "cuccù").