Walking the Cammino Materano

Experience the Cammino Materano, a remarkable pilgrim-style walking network through southern Italy that offers a wonderful alternative to more popular European routes, showcasing an underrated region rich in culture, history and varied landscapes. Stretching across the Puglia and Basilicata regions, the Cammino Materano encompasses three principal long-distance routes all converging on the ancient cave city of Matera, with its dramatic ravines and UNESCO-recognised Sassi dwellings.

The three main routes of the Cammino Materano vary in distance and duration: the Via Peuceta stretches roughly 167 km (104 miles) from Bari to Matera and typically takes 7 - 10 days to complete; the Via Ellenica, running about 287 km (178 miles) from Brindisi to Matera, usually requires 14 days; and the Via Lucana, which begins in Tricarico and covers around 114 km (71 miles), can be walked in 6 days.
This Cicerone guidebook transforms planning the Cammino Materano into a straightforward process, drawing together the practical information, route detail and cultural insight you need to walk one or all three routes confidently. With clear stage breakdowns, mapping and planning tools tailored to walkers of most abilities, it’s a vital resource for anyone seeking a memorable long-distance walk that blends scenic beauty with Italian heritage.

Each of the three routes — Via Peuceta, Via Ellenica and Via Lucana — is described in clear stages with detailed route notes, 1:100,000 mapping and elevation profiles, helping you understand terrain, distances, and daily walking challenges in advance
A route summary table and stage facilities planners bring key information together in one place, including distances, likely walking times, accommodation options, and refreshment stops for every day’s stage, including in towns and villages like Santeramo in Colle, Carovigno and Ostuni
Practical advice is provided on planning and preparation, from timing your walk (spring and autumn being the best seasons) to what to pack and how to manage logistics supporting safe and enjoyable long-distance walking in southern Italy
Details on how to get your Cammino accreditation are also provided for the full pilgrim trail experience
GPX files are available to download for use with mobile devices and GPS apps, offering a flexible digital navigation option for all three of these Italian long-distance trails


With clear stage breakdowns, mapping, cultural insight and practical guidance, this guidebook ensures you can walk the Cammino Materano with confidence, experiencing quiet villages, rolling countryside and the historic streets of Matera along the way. It combines useful guidance with context and insight, making it an ideal companion for a rewarding and memorable walking journey.

Seasons

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September and October) are usually the best times of year. Summer is beautiful but tends to get too hot, and there’s little shade in this region. The winter months can be perfect despite shorter days and the chance of wet weather.

Centres

The routes set out from Bari, Brindisi and Tricarico and converge on Matera.

Difficulty

No specialist items on top of normal walking gear are needed. Difficulty ranges from Easy through Moderate to Moderately Hard. Walking is on a variety of countryside terrain – flat lanes and roads, narrow rocky paths and stony ways, with some steep, hilly ups and downs. Fit walkers used to 15–30km per day can confidently embark on the Cammino Materano routes.

Must See

Historic port cities of Bari and Brindisi; magical Matera set on a dramatic ravine; a host of minor villages, each a treasure trove of history, art and culture – Laterza for majolica pottery, Miglionico for its castle, Alberobello for traditional trulli houses, Ostuni and its whitewashed buildings, Altamura for its bread ovens and Gravina for its aqueduct bridge. Seas of olive trees, wheat fields bright with poppies, Mediterranean woodland, dramatic ravines.