The Province of Matera is one of the two provinces of Basilicata, located in southern Italy. Positioned between the Apulian Murge and the Lucanian hills, it covers about 3,500 km² and includes more than thirty municipalities, among which Matera, the provincial capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands out. Its geographical location, between the Ionian Sea and the Apennines, creates a crossroads of varied landscapes: plains, limestone plateaus, hilly areas and coastal stretches along the Gulf of Taranto. This overview examines the province’s history and population, its main economic activities, and its cultural and natural points of interest.
The history of the Province of Matera is ancient, dating back to prehistoric times. The oldest traces of human presence come from the Paleolithic era, as shown by the caves of the Murgia Materana Park, one of the most important rock complexes in Europe. The famous Sassi di Matera — cave dwellings carved into the rock — are a unique example of uninterrupted human habitation.
During the period of Magna Graecia, the Matera area was influenced by the Greek colonies on the Ionian coast, such as Metaponto, a major agricultural and cultural centre. Archaeological evidence — Doric temples, necropolises, sanctuaries — highlights the significance of this area in Greek times.
Under Roman rule, when the territory was part of Lucania, agricultural land division and road networks developed. Matera continued to be inhabited throughout Byzantine, Lombard and Norman rule, enriching itself with rock monasteries and fortified settlements.
Throughout the Middle Ages, many fiefs were controlled by noble families and monastic orders. In modern times, the province remained largely agricultural and faced backwardness and depopulation, as did many southern regions.
In the 20th century, up to the 1950s, many rural areas experienced migration toward northern Italy and abroad. The enhancement of the Sassi and UNESCO recognition in 1993 revitalised the territory. Today the province has just over 190,000 inhabitants, with strong community bonds, deeply rooted traditions and a lifestyle tied to nature.
The economy of the Province of Matera has always been strongly linked to agriculture. The vast plains around Metaponto and the Basento River are among the most fertile in southern Italy. Main productions include:
durum wheat
vegetables and fruit
citrus crops
vineyards (notably Matera DOC wine)
olive oil from hillside groves
Craftsmanship is also important: terracotta, tuff, wood and wrought iron. Matera’s artisan workshops are an important cultural attraction.
In recent decades tourism has grown considerably. Matera is now an international destination, especially after being European Capital of Culture 2019. Hospitality structures carved into the rock, from hotels to B&Bs, play a key economic role.
Small and medium-sized industries contribute as well, including furniture manufacturing, building materials and food processing.
The Sassi of Matera UNESCO heritage site: rock houses, frescoed churches and ancient alleys.
Murgia Materana Park and Rock Churches A karst plateau with ravines and more than one hundred medieval rock churches.
Metaponto and Magna Graecia Key archeological area featuring:
Tavole Palatine temple
National Archaeological Museum
remains of the Greek polis
Masserie and Rural Villages Historic farmhouses turned into agritourism sites, offering Lucanian cuisine.
Nature Forests, hills, reserves, Ionian beaches, olive groves and vineyards make it ideal for hiking, cycling and birdwatching.
