The Matera Trail: walking from Bari to Matera

Heading south, you can follow the Matera Trail (Puglia and Basilicata). A walking route from Bari to Matera along the Via Peuceta, taking in some of the most authentic landscapes of Puglia and Basilicata. A journey lasting around a week, passing through centuries-old olive groves, karst plateaus, woodlands and villages steeped in history, until you reach the famous, millennia-old Sassi of Matera. After a visit to Bari’s historic centre, the route begins in Bitetto and continues towards Cassano delle Murge, Santeramo in Colle, Altamura and Gravina in Puglia, passing through the Mercadante Forest and the landscapes of the Alta Murgia Park. The stages allow you to discover a region characterised by ancient trade routes, rural traditions, rock-cut architecture and historical remains dating from prehistory to the Middle Ages. The final section of the route passes through the wooded area of Difesa Grande and the sanctuary of Picciano, before arriving in Matera, a symbol of the cultural renaissance of Southern Italia. The journey offers an immersion in the atmosphere of the Murgia, amidst rugged and evocative landscapes, local flavours and tales that weave together history, banditry and folk culture.