Visiting Matera with children? Nothing easier and more fun. The city of Matera and its Sassi have much to offer to visitors traveling with children so you can enjoy a child-friendly holiday in Matera.
With your children in the parks of Matera
Matera has numerous parks and green spaces. The largest is the regional Murgia Park, on the other side of the ravine opposite to the Sassi districts. If you love walks in nature you cannot miss this superb protected area. Here, children will be able to walk freely in low, shrubby vegetation, look at different plants and flowers, smell the scent of thyme, wild oregano and chamomile, measure themselves in height with the very tall stalks of Ferula (giant fennel), spot the flight of kestrels or follow lizards around, all while overlooking the canyon to observe the Gravina stream and admire the Sassi districts from the top of the Belvedere lookout.
The best time to visit the Murgia Park is spring and autumn, but if you arrive in Matera in the height of summer, we recommend you go in the cooler hours of late afternoon, when the magical spectacle of the sunset behind the Sassi will add the final touch to your walk.
There are two ways to approach the park. With the first you start walking directly from Matera, from an access called Porta Pistola, where you can hike down towards the ravine, cross the suspended bridge and hike up to explore natural caves and the park, coming back to Matera from the same path. The second is with your car, or a private transfer. You drive to the Jazzo Gattini visitor center where you can park and start your exploration already from the top of the park. It is always advisable to use trekking shoes, bring water, a cap and sun cream!
Drop us an email if you would like to venture in the Murgia Park with an English speaking guide for a private tour.
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- Ponte Tibetano di Matera – Escursione dai Sassi alla Murgia
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- Ponte Tibetano di Matera – Escursione dai Sassi alla Murgia
Two other green spaces that supply with a cooling shade are right in the city center, the John Paul the second park, called “Boschetto” by locals, and the park of the Castle. Both overlooking Matera from the side of a hill, they are in walking distance from the main square Piazza V.Veneto. The first is an oasis of cool, thanks to the majestic pine trees, where you can enjoy an urban picnic or spend some time on slides and swings or just relax on the grass. A little further up is the Castle Park with its gardens that have the imposing beautiful unfinished Tramontano castle as a backdrop.
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- Parco del Castello
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- Il Boschetto
Our guided tours in Matera for families with children
If you are an art, history and architecture enthusiast and you fear that a guided tour might be too much of a humdrum for your children, why not discover the city and the Sassi in a fun and captivating way together? To discover the history and art in Matera at children’s pace, we designed “Treasure Hunts” (one more suited for the little ones from 4 to 8 y.o. and the other for children of 8-12 y.o.). Children’s focus is on the search of hints and clues scattered around the Sassi districts, helped by our guide. They receive a map with images, riddles and simple puzzle tests, created to convey the most important aspects of Matera and its long history. At the end of the hunt, they win a treasure handcrafted here in Matera as a souvenir they can take home.
If you’re spending more than one day in Matera or your family love outdoor activities and cycling, why not biking around to reach the San Giuliano oasis? This artificial lake is now an oasis for wildlife surrounded by maritime pines forest. You can enjoy a picnic sitting under the shade, build a kite to fly around the edge of the lake where, if you are lucky, you could spot a heron or an egret bathing in the calm waters, foxes, porcupines or other animal intent on their patrol.
Check our experiences in Matera and in Basilicata to discover the city of the Sassi and its region in adventurous and exciting ways that will leave even the little ones with unforgettable memories.
