Food festivals and events in Matera e Sassi 2026
“Matera, Capital of Culture 2019, celebrates its Pane di Matera IGP and a unique cave-dwelling tradition.”
Bread and Wonder
The Sassi district is Europe's oldest continuously inhabited urban settlement (~9,000 years).
Matera was European Capital of Culture in 2019.
Discovering the territory
Products, traditions and culture that make this land unique
Prodotti del Territorio
Fagioli di Sarconi
Beans with protein content up to 27%.
Piatti della Tradizione
Tradizioni e Cultura
Patrimoni UNESCO
I Sassi e il Parco delle Chiese Rupestri di Matera
Europe's oldest continuously inhabited urban settlement (~9,000 years).
Patrimonio CulturaleTradizioni Popolari
Festa della Madonna della Bruna
Shepherds' procession at dawn, the Triumphal Chariot, and the ritual 'strazzo'.
Cucu (clay whistles)
Rooster-shaped whistles, an artisanal tradition dating back to the Neolithic.
Parchi e Aree Naturali
Parco della Murgia Materana
A karst plateau featuring rupestrian churches and canyons.
Personaggi Illustri
Egidio Romualdo Duni
ComposerBorn in Matera in 1708, founder of French opéra-comique.
Carlo Levi
WriterAuthor of 'Christ Stopped at Eboli', set in Basilicata.
Lo Sapevi Che…
“The Sassi served as the filming location for Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ'.”
Domande Frequenti
1What PDO and PGI products are found in Matera and Sassi?expand_more
Matera and Sassi are home to 3 protected designation products, including: Pane di Matera (PGI), Matera DOC (DOC), and Fagioli di Sarconi (PGI).
2What should I eat in Matera and Sassi?expand_more
The signature dishes of Matera and Sassi include: Crapiata, Cialledd, and Cutturidd. Each dish tells the story of the territory's gastronomic tradition.
3What UNESCO World Heritage sites are in Matera and Sassi?expand_more
Matera and Sassi are home to 1 UNESCO World Heritage site: the Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera (Cultural, 1993).
4What are the most famous festivals in Matera and Sassi?expand_more
Among the most important festivals and events in Matera and Sassi are: Festa della Madonna della Bruna (Matera, July 2nd); Gezziamoci Jazz Festival (Matera, late August); Presepe Vivente nei Sassi (Matera, December-January); Il Maggio di Accettura (Accettura, Pentecost).
5What natural parks are in Matera and Sassi?expand_more
Protected natural areas in Matera and Sassi include: Parco della Murgia Materana (Regional Park).
6Who organizes festivals in Matera and Sassi?expand_more
Festivals in Matera and Sassi are organized by local communities such as Pro Loco Matera, Associazione Gezzi, and Pro Loco Accettura. These Pro Loco associations and organizations are the guardians of the territory's gastronomic traditions.