Crypt of Original Sin
A cave in a wall of the Picciano ravine, its walls covered in early medieval frescoes whose colours are still vivid.
The story
The frescoes, painted between the 8th and 9th centuries by an artist known as the Painter of the Flowers of Matera, tell the story of the Creation and the Original Sin, with Adam and Eve against a background of red flowers. Long used as a sheep shelter, the cave was rediscovered in 1963 by a group of young enthusiasts from Matera. Restored and reopened in 2013, it is called «the Sistine Chapel of rock painting».
Why go
One of the oldest fresco cycles in Italy, in a quiet place outside the city.
In the itineraries
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Weather forecast
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
Getting there
- By train. The nearest station is Matera Sud station, 5.6 km away. Alternatively: Matera Centrale station, 6 km away. From the station you need a bus, a taxi or a car.
- By air. The nearest airport is Bari Airport (BRI), about 60 km away.
Stations, ports, airports and car parks from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); distances as the crow flies. Timetables and connections change: check them before you travel.
Climate month by month
The most pleasant months for weather are from April to June and from September to November, with average highs between 18 and 29 °C. From July to August it is hot: average highs exceed 30 °C. The wettest month is February (about 91 mm), the driest June.
| Month | Temperature | High / low | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | from 6 to 13 °C | 13° 6° | 57 |
| Feb | from 7 to 14 °C | 14° 7° | 91 |
| Mar | from 8 to 16 °C | 16° 8° | 60 |
| Apr | from 10 to 19 °C | 19° 10° | 36 |
| May | from 15 to 23 °C | 23° 15° | 38 |
| Jun | from 20 to 29 °C | 29° 20° | 28 |
| Jul | from 23 to 33 °C | 33° 23° | 36 |
| Aug | from 23 to 33 °C | 33° 23° | 47 |
| Sep | from 20 to 28 °C | 28° 20° | 43 |
| Oct | from 16 to 24 °C | 24° 16° | 86 |
| Nov | from 12 to 19 °C | 19° 12° | 84 |
| Dec | from 8 to 15 °C | 15° 8° | 43 |
Averages for 2015–2024, estimated for an altitude of 132 m. Air: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), corrected for the altitude of the place; rain: average monthly total. These are indicative values: the weather on any given day can be very different, so always check the forecast before you go.