Matera · Traveler’s guide
Sassi di Matera
The Sassi di Matera are the UNESCO-listed cave districts carved into the ravine below the city, best reached on foot from Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
About Sassi di Matera
- Two historic cave-dwelling districts: Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993
- Matera was European Capital of Culture in 2019, driving a lasting rise in visitors
- Steep, stepped, largely car-free lanes make wheeled luggage impractical
- No left-luggage office within the historic district — storage sits near Piazza Vittorio Veneto
The Sassi di Matera are two ancient cave-dwelling districts, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, carved into the limestone ravine below the modern town — one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world and, since 1993, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Matera's year as European Capital of Culture in 2019 brought a lasting surge of visitors to these steep, stepped lanes, and its cave-and-canyon setting has since drawn international film productions. Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the square where the modern town meets the historic centre, is the natural starting point for exploring the Sassi on foot — but its narrow stairways, uneven stone and lack of vehicle access make wheeled luggage genuinely impractical, and there is no left-luggage office anywhere within the historic district itself.
Traveler services
Luggage storage near Sassi di Matera
- 📍 DistanceSteps from the entrance
- 🧳 Bag ruleThe Sassi's cave-cut lanes have no left-luggage office of their own.
- ⚡ BookingOnline, instant
How to get there
From the Piazza Vittorio Veneto belvedere overlooking Sasso Caveoso, storage partners sit a short walk away along Via del Corso, just before the streets narrow and drop into the Sassi.
Bag policy
The Sassi's cave-cut lanes have no left-luggage office of their own. App-based storage partners near Piazza Vittorio Veneto — the square linking the modern town to the historic Sassi districts — hold bags by the hour or day, booked online.
Compare providers:
BounceLargest network; per-hour or per-day, app booking, insurance included.
- Most locations near landmarks
- Instant online booking
- Bag protection included
- Price varies by shop
- Some partners keep short hours
Radical StorageFlat daily price per bag, no size limit; strong in European cities.
- Simple flat €/bag/day
- No size limit
- Wide EU coverage
- Fewer points than Bounce in some areas
StasherShops + hotels as hosts; insured; often near stations.
- Hotel & shop hosts
- Insurance to £1000
- Good station coverage
- Coverage thinner outside big cities
LuggageHeroHourly or daily cap; live location map; seals on bags.
- Pay hourly or daily cap
- Tamper seals + insurance
- Hourly can exceed flat-rate for long stays
Frequently asked questions
Where can I leave luggage before exploring the Sassi di Matera?
There is no left-luggage office in the Sassi itself. Travellers use app-based storage partners near Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the square linking the modern town to the historic cave districts, booked online before heading down into the Sassi.
Can I walk the Sassi with a suitcase?
It's not practical. The Sassi's lanes are steep, stepped, and largely closed to vehicles, so wheeled luggage is a real liability. Storing bags near Piazza Vittorio Veneto lets you explore Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano hands-free.
What are the Sassi di Matera?
The Sassi are two historic cave-dwelling districts — Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano — cut into the rock below Matera's modern town. They were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and are the reason most travellers visit Matera.