Things to see · Churches and sanctuaries
Santa Maria de Idris
Matera (Matera)
Santa Maria de Idris is in Matera, province of Matera. Opening hours: Winter hours from 2 November 2026: daily 9:30–16:30 (last entry 15:45). In spring and summer opening hours extend into the evening. Closed 25 December and 2 July. Admission: Single ticket with San Giovanni in Monterrone. 1 rock church €4.50; 2 churches €8; 3 churches (with Santa Lucia alle Malve and San Pietro Barisano) €10. Reductions from €2.50.
- Single ticket with San Giovanni in Monterrone. 1 rock church €4.50; 2 churches €8; 3 churches (with Santa Lucia alle Malve and San Pietro Barisano) €10. Reductions from €2.50.
- Winter hours from 2 November 2026: daily 9:30–16:30 (last entry 15:45). In spring and summer opening hours extend into the evening. Closed 25 December and 2 July.
About this place
The rock church of Santa Maria de Idris stands on top of Monterrone, the large tufa rock that rises in the heart of the Sasso Caveoso, next to piazza San Pietro Caveoso. With the cross on the summit of the cliff, it is one of the symbol images of Matera, and from the square in front of the entrance you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views over the Sassi and the gorge.
History
The church dates back to the 14th–15th century and is part of a rock complex that also includes the older crypt of San Giovanni in Monterrone, to which it is connected by a corridor carved into the rock in the early 19th century. The name almost certainly comes from the Greek Odigitria, «she who shows the way», the title under which the Virgin was venerated in Constantinople: a cult brought to southern Italy by Byzantine monks. According to another popular interpretation, the name is linked to water, which was precious on the rock.
The tufa façade was rebuilt in the 15th century after a collapse and is embellished by a small bell tower. The interior, consisting of a single room, has an irregular plan: one part is built in masonry, the other is carved into the rock.
What to see
• The Monterrone rock, with the cross on top and the staircase that winds around the rock.
• The altar with a 17th-century tempera painting of the Madonna and Child.
• The frescoes with Sant’Antonio, the Holy Family, the Conversion of Sant’Eustachio, an Annunciation and a Crucifixion.
• The passage to the crypt of San Giovanni in Monterrone, with the oldest frescoes.
• The view over the Sasso Caveoso, the gorge and the Murgia, especially at sunset.
How to get there
• On foot: from piazza San Pietro Caveoso, climb the staircase that goes around Monterrone. Nearby are the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario and Santa Lucia alle Malve.
• By car: cars cannot enter the Sassi; it is best to leave your car in the car parks of the new town and walk down.
Useful information
• The Santa Maria de Idris – San Giovanni in Monterrone complex is visited with a single ticket and is managed by the cooperative Oltre l’Arte.
• A combined ticket is available with Santa Lucia alle Malve and San Pietro Barisano.
• The visit takes about a quarter of an hour; the external view is free.
