Gravina di Matera Gorge
Gravina di Matera Gorge features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Matera. Give it roughly ~90 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type nature
- Suggested visit ~90 min
- Matera Matera guide
About Gravina di Matera Gorge
The dramatic 150-metre-deep limestone gorge carved by the Gravina river below the Sassi, with cave dwellings on both sides and a suspension footbridge connecting the two banks, the defining geological feature of Matera.
The Gravina di Matera is the deep limestone gorge carved by the Gravina river that forms the natural eastern boundary of the Matera Sassi. The gorge descends approximately 150 metres from the plateau edge to the river below and has vertical limestone walls honeycombed with cave entrances, the ancient dwellings of the Murgia Materana park on the far side and the Sasso Caveoso on the near side. A suspension footbridge connects the two sides of the gorge, and the path around the rim of the gorge offers the most dramatic views of the Sassi. The gorge is also one of the finest examples of karst landscape in southern Italy: the limestone has been dissolved over millions of years to create a dramatic, deeply eroded terrain.
Did you know? The Gravina gorge was formed by the Gravina river over several million years, cutting progressively deeper into the soft tufa limestone plateau. The rate of downcutting has been estimated at approximately 0.1 millimetres per year, meaning the river has been actively creating the gorge for at least 1.5 million years.
How long is a visit to Gravina di Matera Gorge?
Set aside roughly ~90 min for Gravina di Matera Gorge. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Gravina di Matera Gorge worth your time?
Gravina di Matera Gorge is among the 15 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Matera, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Matera
Hear the story of Gravina di Matera Gorge
Preview the Matera tour free in the Gingerguide app.