![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Van-Bari-naar-Matera-wandelen.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/stenen-muren-en-olijfbomen-Puglia-wandelen.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<\/p>\n\n
Highlights of the Cammino Materano:<\/h2>\n\n\n- The Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Slow Food Presidia and Farm-to-Table Cuisine<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The steppe of the Murgia Plateau<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Forests and maquis scrub: the “green” side of Puglia<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Rock caves and traces of ancient civilizations<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A land of legends about saints and bandits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
The Camino Materano takes you through Puglia and Basilicata, two regions that seem very similar at first glance but each have their own distinct identity\u2014as seen, for example, in their cuisine and wine, prepared with local passion and authentic ingredients. Read about our 7-day journey and join us on a walk through Puglia and Basilicata. <\/p>\n\n
\nPractical Tips for the Cammino Materano<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- On average, you walk between 16 and 27 kilometers a day<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- There are some significant elevation changes here and there, so this is suitable if you’re in good shape<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The trail alternates between unpaved and paved paths, and there is little shade along the way<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The best time to visit is in the spring and fall, but the route can be hiked year-round. The climate is mild, often lasting into December. January, February, and March generally see the most rain and are the coldest months, though not extremely so. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Good hiking boots and a cap or hat are a must. Hiking poles are recommended, and be sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a rain jacket if needed. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\n![\"Bari](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/italy-94399_1920-682x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Murgia](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/flowering-4106336_1920-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nDay 1 Cammino Materano: Welcome to Bari<\/h2>\n\n
The beautiful city of Bari welcomes you with the glow of its white buildings and the scent of the Adriatic Sea. This multicultural and Mediterranean city, the capital of Puglia, has two sides: one ancient, reflected in the lively old town enclosed by the ancient city walls, and the other modern and elegant, built in the 19th century. <\/p>\n\n
Overnight stay in Bari.<\/p>\n\n
Day 2: Hike from Bari to Cassano<\/h2>\n\n
26 km, +320 m, -100 m<\/em><\/p>\n\nA short train ride from Bari will take you to Bitetto, the starting point of the first stage of the Camino along the Via Peuceta.<\/p>\n\n
You are in the Bari region, and the landscape\u2014on the way to the Murgia Plateau\u2014is typically agricultural. You\u2019ll walk through the olive groves for which the area is famous. You\u2019ll also see many almond trees and centuries-old oaks, and among the many dry-stone walls, the Mediterranean scrub, and the cultivated fields, you\u2019ll spot the small trulli and the remains of old farmhouses. <\/p>\n\n
Just before you enter Cassano, you can take a short detour to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria degli Angeli, dedicated to the discovery of the fresco of the Madonna in a cave.<\/p>\n\n
You’ll spend the night in Cassano, home to the smooth black chickpea, which has been eaten by Murgian farmers for centuries and is now a Slow Food Presidium<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pad-naar-gravina-cammino-materano-wandelen.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/matera-via-peuceta-wandelen.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<\/p>\n\n
Day 3: Hike in the Murgia and along Europe’s longest aqueduct<\/h2>\n\n
22 km, +370 m, -230 m<\/em><\/p>\n\nToday\u2019s route is still slightly uphill, set amidst the beautiful Murgia region with its majestic natural scenery.<\/p>\n\n
The vast expanses of wheat fields fill the landscape\u2014depending on the season\u2014with color and leave room for forests, dense thickets, and wild, fragrant medicinal plants. If you go for a walk in the spring, you\u2019ll see all kinds of flowers, including small wild orchids: 30 of the 150 different species found in Puglia can be found in this area. <\/p>\n\n
You’ll follow a section of the Puglia Aqueduct\u2014the longest in Europe\u2014and along the way you’ll come across natural caves and old farmhouses that you can reach via winding forest trails.<\/p>\n\n
This land of ancient legends tells the story of the bandit Vituccio Servodio from the second half of the 19th century, who found refuge in the Mesola Forest before he was captured.<\/p>\n\n
Overnight stay in Santeramo in Colle.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Puglia](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Puglia-Aquaduct-1-1024x769.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Camino](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/bread-1898442_1920-1-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nDay 4: Hike through the Murgia Plateau and experience Slow Food in Altamura<\/h2>\n\n
23 km, +250 m, -260 m<\/em><\/p>\n\nA route that winds through the stunning panoramas of the Murgia Plateau.\u2028<\/p>\n\n
You\u2019ll pass by the beautiful Grotta Sant\u2019Angelo, where medieval frescoes and thousands of ancient graffiti have been preserved, with a small Romanesque church in front of it. You\u2019ll reach the first hills, from where the view stretches far into the distance among the hills, and then you\u2019ll finally catch a glimpse of Altamura. <\/p>\n\n
The heart of the Alta Murgia is a steppe region with sparse, low-lying vegetation, such as the magical fairy-tale flax. Shepherds passed through here with their flocks and settled on what is now the Fornello rock, which is full of underground cavities and reservoirs for collecting rainwater. <\/p>\n\n
Follow the old medieval carriage roads and you\u2019ll arrive in Altamura, founded by the Peucetians, after whom this trail is named. Altamura is surrounded by imposing megalithic walls. Here, bread (focaccia) is a Slow Food Presidium<\/a>. The story of the baker who forced the local McDonald\u2019s to close was made into a movie in 2009, titled \u201cFocaccia Blues.\u201d <\/p>\n\nOvernight stay in Altamura.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Cammino-Materano-Puglia-en-Basilicata-wandelen.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bewegwijzering-cammino-materano.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<\/p>\n\n
Day 5: Altamura and Gravina in Puglia<\/h2>\n\n
20 km, +170 m, -300 m<\/em><\/p>\n\nWhen you’re in Altamura, be sure to stop by the bakery for some “il pane di Altamura”! You’ll leave behind the narrow alleys and the typical “claustri di Altamura,” the churches, and the noble palaces, to return to the countryside of Puglia.\u2028 <\/p>\n\n
Today\u2019s stage is fairly easy, and you\u2019ll pass through many expansive landscapes with wheat and legume fields. A small forest and an old paved road mark the entrance to Gravina in Puglia. From the cathedral, the view of the gorge (the \u201cgravina\u201d) is stunning, with the aqueduct bridge and the cliffside villages, and the sound of flowing water in the background. <\/p>\n\n
Overnight stay in Gravina in Puglia.<\/p>\n\n
Day 6: Hike from the San Giuliano Oasis to your final destination, Matera<\/h2>\n\n
18 km, +420 m, -140 m<\/em><\/p>\n\nA short transfer from Gravina takes you to the Oasi San Giuliano Nature Reserve, one of the most important wetlands in Lucania.<\/p>\n\n
The Camino Materano takes you through Puglia and Basilicata, two regions that seem very similar at first glance but each have their own distinct identity\u2014as seen, for example, in their cuisine and wine, prepared with local passion and authentic ingredients. Read about our 7-day journey and join us on a walk through Puglia and Basilicata. <\/p>\n\n
Practical Tips for the Cammino Materano<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- On average, you walk between 16 and 27 kilometers a day<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- There are some significant elevation changes here and there, so this is suitable if you’re in good shape<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The trail alternates between unpaved and paved paths, and there is little shade along the way<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The best time to visit is in the spring and fall, but the route can be hiked year-round. The climate is mild, often lasting into December. January, February, and March generally see the most rain and are the coldest months, though not extremely so. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Good hiking boots and a cap or hat are a must. Hiking poles are recommended, and be sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a rain jacket if needed. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nDay 1 Cammino Materano: Welcome to Bari<\/h2>\n\n
The beautiful city of Bari welcomes you with the glow of its white buildings and the scent of the Adriatic Sea. This multicultural and Mediterranean city, the capital of Puglia, has two sides: one ancient, reflected in the lively old town enclosed by the ancient city walls, and the other modern and elegant, built in the 19th century. <\/p>\n\n
Overnight stay in Bari.<\/p>\n\n
Day 2: Hike from Bari to Cassano<\/h2>\n\n
26 km, +320 m, -100 m<\/em><\/p>\n\nA short train ride from Bari will take you to Bitetto, the starting point of the first stage of the Camino along the Via Peuceta.<\/p>\n\n
You are in the Bari region, and the landscape\u2014on the way to the Murgia Plateau\u2014is typically agricultural. You\u2019ll walk through the olive groves for which the area is famous. You\u2019ll also see many almond trees and centuries-old oaks, and among the many dry-stone walls, the Mediterranean scrub, and the cultivated fields, you\u2019ll spot the small trulli and the remains of old farmhouses. <\/p>\n\n
Just before you enter Cassano, you can take a short detour to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria degli Angeli, dedicated to the discovery of the fresco of the Madonna in a cave.<\/p>\n\n
You’ll spend the night in Cassano, home to the smooth black chickpea, which has been eaten by Murgian farmers for centuries and is now a Slow Food Presidium<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<\/p>\n\n
Day 3: Hike in the Murgia and along Europe’s longest aqueduct<\/h2>\n\n
22 km, +370 m, -230 m<\/em><\/p>\n\nToday\u2019s route is still slightly uphill, set amidst the beautiful Murgia region with its majestic natural scenery.<\/p>\n\n
The vast expanses of wheat fields fill the landscape\u2014depending on the season\u2014with color and leave room for forests, dense thickets, and wild, fragrant medicinal plants. If you go for a walk in the spring, you\u2019ll see all kinds of flowers, including small wild orchids: 30 of the 150 different species found in Puglia can be found in this area. <\/p>\n\n
You’ll follow a section of the Puglia Aqueduct\u2014the longest in Europe\u2014and along the way you’ll come across natural caves and old farmhouses that you can reach via winding forest trails.<\/p>\n\n
This land of ancient legends tells the story of the bandit Vituccio Servodio from the second half of the 19th century, who found refuge in the Mesola Forest before he was captured.<\/p>\n\n
Overnight stay in Santeramo in Colle.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nDay 4: Hike through the Murgia Plateau and experience Slow Food in Altamura<\/h2>\n\n
23 km, +250 m, -260 m<\/em><\/p>\n\nA route that winds through the stunning panoramas of the Murgia Plateau.\u2028<\/p>\n\n
You\u2019ll pass by the beautiful Grotta Sant\u2019Angelo, where medieval frescoes and thousands of ancient graffiti have been preserved, with a small Romanesque church in front of it. You\u2019ll reach the first hills, from where the view stretches far into the distance among the hills, and then you\u2019ll finally catch a glimpse of Altamura. <\/p>\n\n
The heart of the Alta Murgia is a steppe region with sparse, low-lying vegetation, such as the magical fairy-tale flax. Shepherds passed through here with their flocks and settled on what is now the Fornello rock, which is full of underground cavities and reservoirs for collecting rainwater. <\/p>\n\n
Follow the old medieval carriage roads and you\u2019ll arrive in Altamura, founded by the Peucetians, after whom this trail is named. Altamura is surrounded by imposing megalithic walls. Here, bread (focaccia) is a Slow Food Presidium<\/a>. The story of the baker who forced the local McDonald\u2019s to close was made into a movie in 2009, titled \u201cFocaccia Blues.\u201d <\/p>\n\nOvernight stay in Altamura.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<\/p>\n\n
Day 5: Altamura and Gravina in Puglia<\/h2>\n\n
20 km, +170 m, -300 m<\/em><\/p>\n\nWhen you’re in Altamura, be sure to stop by the bakery for some “il pane di Altamura”! You’ll leave behind the narrow alleys and the typical “claustri di Altamura,” the churches, and the noble palaces, to return to the countryside of Puglia.\u2028 <\/p>\n\n
Today\u2019s stage is fairly easy, and you\u2019ll pass through many expansive landscapes with wheat and legume fields. A small forest and an old paved road mark the entrance to Gravina in Puglia. From the cathedral, the view of the gorge (the \u201cgravina\u201d) is stunning, with the aqueduct bridge and the cliffside villages, and the sound of flowing water in the background. <\/p>\n\n
Overnight stay in Gravina in Puglia.<\/p>\n\n
Day 6: Hike from the San Giuliano Oasis to your final destination, Matera<\/h2>\n\n
18 km, +420 m, -140 m<\/em><\/p>\n\nA short transfer from Gravina takes you to the Oasi San Giuliano Nature Reserve, one of the most important wetlands in Lucania.<\/p>\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nDay 1 Cammino Materano: Welcome to Bari<\/h2>\n\n
The beautiful city of Bari welcomes you with the glow of its white buildings and the scent of the Adriatic Sea. This multicultural and Mediterranean city, the capital of Puglia, has two sides: one ancient, reflected in the lively old town enclosed by the ancient city walls, and the other modern and elegant, built in the 19th century. <\/p>\n\n
Overnight stay in Bari.<\/p>\n\n
Day 2: Hike from Bari to Cassano<\/h2>\n\n
26 km, +320 m, -100 m<\/em><\/p>\n\n A short train ride from Bari will take you to Bitetto, the starting point of the first stage of the Camino along the Via Peuceta.<\/p>\n\n You are in the Bari region, and the landscape\u2014on the way to the Murgia Plateau\u2014is typically agricultural. You\u2019ll walk through the olive groves for which the area is famous. You\u2019ll also see many almond trees and centuries-old oaks, and among the many dry-stone walls, the Mediterranean scrub, and the cultivated fields, you\u2019ll spot the small trulli and the remains of old farmhouses. <\/p>\n\n Just before you enter Cassano, you can take a short detour to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria degli Angeli, dedicated to the discovery of the fresco of the Madonna in a cave.<\/p>\n\n You’ll spend the night in Cassano, home to the smooth black chickpea, which has been eaten by Murgian farmers for centuries and is now a Slow Food Presidium<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n 22 km, +370 m, -230 m<\/em><\/p>\n\n Today\u2019s route is still slightly uphill, set amidst the beautiful Murgia region with its majestic natural scenery.<\/p>\n\n The vast expanses of wheat fields fill the landscape\u2014depending on the season\u2014with color and leave room for forests, dense thickets, and wild, fragrant medicinal plants. If you go for a walk in the spring, you\u2019ll see all kinds of flowers, including small wild orchids: 30 of the 150 different species found in Puglia can be found in this area. <\/p>\n\n You’ll follow a section of the Puglia Aqueduct\u2014the longest in Europe\u2014and along the way you’ll come across natural caves and old farmhouses that you can reach via winding forest trails.<\/p>\n\n This land of ancient legends tells the story of the bandit Vituccio Servodio from the second half of the 19th century, who found refuge in the Mesola Forest before he was captured.<\/p>\n\n Overnight stay in Santeramo in Colle.<\/p>\n\n 23 km, +250 m, -260 m<\/em><\/p>\n\n A route that winds through the stunning panoramas of the Murgia Plateau.\u2028<\/p>\n\n You\u2019ll pass by the beautiful Grotta Sant\u2019Angelo, where medieval frescoes and thousands of ancient graffiti have been preserved, with a small Romanesque church in front of it. You\u2019ll reach the first hills, from where the view stretches far into the distance among the hills, and then you\u2019ll finally catch a glimpse of Altamura. <\/p>\n\n The heart of the Alta Murgia is a steppe region with sparse, low-lying vegetation, such as the magical fairy-tale flax. Shepherds passed through here with their flocks and settled on what is now the Fornello rock, which is full of underground cavities and reservoirs for collecting rainwater. <\/p>\n\n Follow the old medieval carriage roads and you\u2019ll arrive in Altamura, founded by the Peucetians, after whom this trail is named. Altamura is surrounded by imposing megalithic walls. Here, bread (focaccia) is a Slow Food Presidium<\/a>. The story of the baker who forced the local McDonald\u2019s to close was made into a movie in 2009, titled \u201cFocaccia Blues.\u201d <\/p>\n\n Overnight stay in Altamura.<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n 20 km, +170 m, -300 m<\/em><\/p>\n\n When you’re in Altamura, be sure to stop by the bakery for some “il pane di Altamura”! You’ll leave behind the narrow alleys and the typical “claustri di Altamura,” the churches, and the noble palaces, to return to the countryside of Puglia.\u2028 <\/p>\n\n Today\u2019s stage is fairly easy, and you\u2019ll pass through many expansive landscapes with wheat and legume fields. A small forest and an old paved road mark the entrance to Gravina in Puglia. From the cathedral, the view of the gorge (the \u201cgravina\u201d) is stunning, with the aqueduct bridge and the cliffside villages, and the sound of flowing water in the background. <\/p>\n\n Overnight stay in Gravina in Puglia.<\/p>\n\n 18 km, +420 m, -140 m<\/em><\/p>\n\n A short transfer from Gravina takes you to the Oasi San Giuliano Nature Reserve, one of the most important wetlands in Lucania.<\/p>\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nDay 3: Hike in the Murgia and along Europe’s longest aqueduct<\/h2>\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nDay 4: Hike through the Murgia Plateau and experience Slow Food in Altamura<\/h2>\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nDay 5: Altamura and Gravina in Puglia<\/h2>\n\n
Day 6: Hike from the San Giuliano Oasis to your final destination, Matera<\/h2>\n\n