A guidebook to walking to Matera on the Via Peuceta, Via Ellenica and Via Lucana, three long-distance cammino routes through southern Italy's Puglia and Basilicata regions.

The three routes are presented in 7, 14 and 6 stages of between 10 and 30km (7 and 19 miles), including variant routes, accompanied by information on facilities, accommodation and where to get your cammino accreditation. The routes are suitable for most abilities.

• 1:100,000 maps and profiles included for each stage 
• GPX files available to download 
• Handy route summary tables and stage facilities planners help you plan your itinerary 
• Refreshment and accommodation information given for each stage 
• Advice on planning and preparation

Map key
Route summary tables
Stage facilities planners
Forewords
Introduction: the Cammino Materano
Via Peuceta
Via Ellenica
Via Lucana
Planning your walk
When to walk
Where to stay and booking
How much money should I budget?
Getting to the route start
Returning from Matera
How do I secure my credential and testimonium?
What to eat and drink
Making the most of your walk
Topography of the Cammino Materano
Understanding local cultures
Plants and flowers
Wildlife
Training for your walk
What and how to pack
Baggage transport
Health and well-being
How to use this guide
Route descriptions and waymarking
Maps, apps and GPX tracks
Via Peuceta
Stage 1 Bari to Bitetto
Stage 2 Bitetto to Cassano delle Murge
Stage 3 Cassano delle Murge to Santeramo in Colle
Stage 4 Santeramo in Colle to Altamura
Stage 5 Altamura to Gravina in Puglia
Stage 6 Gravina in Puglia to Santuario di Piccian
Stage 7 Santuario di Picciano to Matera 
Via Ellenica
Stage 1 Brindisi to San Vito dei Normanni
Stage 2 San Vito dei Normanni to Carovigno
Stage 3 Carovigno to Ostuni
Stage 4 Ostuni to Cisternino
Stage 5 Cisternino to Locorotondo
Stage 6 Locorotondo to Alberobello
Stage 7 Alberobello to Martina Franca
Stage 8 Martina Franca to Crispiano
Stage 9 Crispiano to Massafra
Stage 10 Massafra to Mottola
Stage 11 Mottola to Castellaneta
Stage 12 Castellaneta to Laterza
Stage 13 Laterza to Ginosa
Stage 14 Ginosa to Matera
Via Lucana
Stage 1 Tricarico to Grassano
Stage 2 Grassano to Grottole
Stage 3 Grottole to Miglionico
Stage 4 Miglionico to Pomarico
Stage 5 Pomarico to Montescaglioso
Stage 6 Montescaglioso to Matera
Appendix A: Accommodation
Appendix B: Italian–English glossary
Appendix C: Useful contacts 

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.

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