Essentials
- City
- Matera, Basilicata, Italy
- Population
- 60,500
- Internet Speed
- Average 75 Mbps (Fiber available in Sassi and modern center)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD; uses Euro (€)
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and excellent quality; many public fountains (fontanelle) in the Sassi
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F/L sockets
- SIM Card
- TIM, Vodafone, Iliad (Iliad offers 150GB for €9.99/month)
- Banking for Expats
- Intesa Sanpaolo, Unicredit, Revolut, Wise
- Accommodation
- Cave dwellings (Sassi) or modern apartments in 'Piano'. Monthly rentals range €600 - €1,200.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, but small cafes and markets often prefer cash for amounts under €5.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local agency 'Sassi Home'
- Budget Accommodation
- Ostello dei Sassi (approx. €30/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso (historic cave districts)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Via Lanera or Spine Bianche (near the University, more affordable and better facilities)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Casa Netural (Via Lanera 7, €15/day, €150/month) - excellent community focus
- Best Cafe for Work
- Area 8 (Via Casalnuovo 15) - creative vibe with good Wi-Fi during the day
- Networking Events
- Netural Talk at Casa Netural; weekly digital nomad meetups organized via WhatsApp groups
- Social Events for Expats
- Language exchange nights at Shibuya Matera (Via Ridola)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber/Bolt; use local Taxi Matera (+39 0835 334048)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Matera E-Bike (Via Ridola 54, approx. €25/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Metaponto Lido (45 mins by car/bus)
- Top Regional Airline
- ITA Airways (via Bari Airport)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair, Lufthansa, EasyJet (operating from BRI - Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport)
- Highway Access
- SS7 (Via Appia) connects to the A14 Adriatica motorway
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Matera Centrale (Ferrovie Appulo Lucane - narrow gauge line to Bari)
- Public Transport Passes
- Miccolis Spa tickets (€1.00 for 90 mins, monthly pass €30)
- Regional Travel
- Bus (MarinoBus or Itabus) for long distance; FAL Train for Bari (€5.70)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie (Contrada方ndreace)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Centro Yoga Matera (Via S. Pardo 13)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Light Blue Matera (Via dei Messapi, approx. €50/month)
- Laundry Services
- Lavanderia Self-Service 'Bolle di Sapone' (Via Lucana)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo and Deliveroo are the main operators
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Pane di Matera (IGP Bread) and Crapiata (legume soup)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Fior di Cucuzza (Via Rocco Scotellaro 5)
- Best Dessert Spots
- I Vizi degli Angeli (Laboratorio di Gelateria, Via Ridola 36)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercato Settimanale (Saturday Market on Via Granulari)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.it, eBay.it
- Grocery Delivery
- Esselunga (online) or Supermercati Dok
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Via Ridola and the area around Piazza Vittorio Veneto
- Local Brewery
- Birrificio Sassi (Local craft beer found in most Sassi bars)
- Wine Bars
- Enoteca Dai Tosi (Via Bruno Buozzi 12 - located inside a cave)
- Street Food Stalls
- Quattroquarti (Piazza Vittorio Veneto - famous for Puccia sandwiches)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ke Kebab (Via Lucana) - Mediterranean/Middle Eastern fusion
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Palazzo Lanfranchi and the Belvedere di Murgia Timone
- Museums & Art Venues
- MUSMA (Museum of Contemporary Sculpture, Via S. Giacomo)
- Historical Sites
- Casa Noha (FAI site explaining the history of Sassi)
- Religious Sites
- Cattedrale di Matera and the Rock Church of Santa Maria de Idris
- Annual Events
- Festa della Bruna (July 2nd) - the city's massive patronal festival
- Cultural Districts
- The Sassi (UNESCO World Heritage site)
- Theater Venues
- Auditorium Raffaele Gervasio
- Local Markets
- Mercato di Via Lucana (Daily fresh produce)
- Music Scene
- Casa Cava (An underground theater/music venue in a quarry)
- Street Art
- Murals in the 'Spine Bianche' neighborhood
- Cooking Classes
- Matera Cooking Class (Via S. Biagio, approx. €80/session)
- Art Galleries
- Momart Gallery (Via delle Beccherie)
- Historic Buildings
- Palazzo Annunziata (former convent, now a library)
- Local Heritage
- Cucù (Traditional handmade ceramic whistles in the shape of roosters)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Parco della Murgia Materana
- National Parks Nearby
- Parco Nazionale dell'Appennino Lucano (1.5 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Suspension bridge path connecting Sassi to the Murgia
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Belvedere Guerricchio (Piazza Vittorio Veneto)
- Birdwatching Locations
- San Giuliano Lake (Wildlife Reserve 20 mins from city)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Strictly prohibited in the Sassi; allowed in designated picnic zones in Parco dei Monaci
Business
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 26% standard rate
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €152,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €84,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €210,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €114,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €256,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,750 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €140,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 24% (IRES) + 3.9% (IRAP regional tax)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 43% for income over €50,000
- VAT
- 22% standard; 10% for cafes/restaurants
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable under Italian tax law
- Property Tax
- IMU (Municipal Property Tax), approx 0.76%-1.06% except for primary residence
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2% for primary residence (first home), 9% for second homes/non-residents
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Italy Digital Nomad Visa / Inpatriates tax scheme (70-90% income tax exemption for eligible moves)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Poste Italiane (Via delle Beccherie) or DHL Point in Via Lucana
- Tech Repair Services
- Matera Informatica (Via Dante Alighieri 42)
- Table Tennis Spots
- ASD Tennistavolo Matera
- Language Classes
- Dante Alighieri Matera (Vico I Bruno Buozzi)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Provinciale Stigliani (Piazza Vittorio Veneto)
- Community Centers
- Casino Padula (Home of Matera 2019 Foundation projects)
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Games (Modern center near Via Nazionale)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Mini-casinos like Admiral Gaming Hall (Via delle Arti)