Walk the Sassi of Matera
Matera's two Sassi are districts of houses and churches carved into the side of a ravine, among the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. FOG hides the map until you walk it, and the Sassi are a vertical maze of steps and alleys to clear.
The two Sassi
The Sasso Barisano and the Sasso Caveoso fill two bowls on the side of the Gravina ravine, separated by the Civita, a ridge topped by the cathedral. Cave houses, rock churches, stairways and narrow terraces stack on top of each other.
From the Piazza Vittorio Veneto in the upper town, steps lead down into the Sassi. Under the piazza, the Palombaro Lungo is a vast old cistern you can visit. Along the edge of the Sasso Caveoso, a road follows the rim of the ravine.
Across the ravine
From the bottom of the Sasso Caveoso, a path leads down into the Gravina and across a suspension bridge to the Murgia plateau, a natural park with cave churches. The climb up the other side leads to the Belvedere Murgia Timone, with the classic view back across the ravine at the whole town.
The upper town, with Via Ridola and the Via del Corso, is a flatter grid with museums and churches, and a good way to finish a loop.
Steps everywhere
Matera is all steps: hundreds of them, uneven and smooth with wear. Wear good shoes and take water.
Summers are very hot, and the stone holds the heat. The ravine walk is best early in the day.
Share the shape you walked
After a proper walk FOG can offer a walk card: the shape of the route you just covered in Matera, ready to post as a square, a story or the bare shape. The lifetime card shows the area you have unfogged, the distance travelled and how much of the city you have lit.
It all runs on your phone with no account and no cloud. Choose kilometres in Settings, pick a fog colour (Midnight, Abyss, Violet, Ember or Slate) and a density, and walk. Exploring is free, and one purchase of FOG Unlimited opens every rank, every path and Google Timeline and GPX import.
Questions people actually ask
What are the Sassi of Matera?
Two old districts of houses and churches cut into the side of the Gravina ravine.
Can you walk across the ravine in Matera?
Yes, a path and a suspension bridge lead to the Murgia plateau on the far side.
Is there a subscription?
No. Exploring is free and FOG Unlimited is a single purchase. There is never a subscription.
Start with a dark map.
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