Materano Path – Via Peuceta: from Bari to Matera in 7 stages

The Cammino Materano - Via Peuceta is one of the most interesting walking routes in Southern Italy. It takes you through inland Puglia and ends in Matera.

The journey starts at the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari. It passes through olive groves, the Murgia landscapes, ravines, medieval villages, and rural areas until reaching the Sassi of Matera.

The total distance is about 170 km, usually divided into 7 stages. You walk about 24 km per day. Some stages are more challenging, especially between Gravina in Puglia and Picciano. Many consider it one of the longest and toughest parts.

The average walking time varies between 5 and 8 hours daily. It depends on breaks, the season, and your physical condition.

Unlike other more touristy routes, the Via Peuceta still feels authentic and slow. You find farms, homely accommodations, and long stretches in the countryside.

If you want a very organized path with lots of services and an international vibe like Santiago, the Via Peuceta might seem too basic.

But if you're interested in slowly crossing Puglia's interior to reach Matera, it's one of the most unique routes in Southern Italy.

Bari - Bitetto

Average distance: about 18-20 km

Average time: 5-6 hours

Difficulty: medium-easy

The journey starts at the Basilica di San Nicola, a pilgrimage symbol in Southern Italy.

The first kilometers take you through Bari, with urban traffic, the seafront, and suburbs before gradually entering the countryside.

This stage is very different from the others. It starts more urban and fragmented, then becomes increasingly rural as you leave the Bari metropolitan area.

After the urban stretches, you encounter olive groves, secondary roads, and agricultural areas, gradually introducing the Murgia landscape.

If you want to skip the first 8 km of Bari's outskirts, you can take a train to Modugno and reconnect with the main route from there.

The Ferrovie Appulo Lucane train reaches the city center. Alternatively, you can take a Trenitalia train from Bari to Modugno, but the station is outside the town center.

Bitetto - Cassano delle Murge

Average distance: about 23-25 km

Average time: 6-7 hours

Difficulty: medium

This stage is where you truly appreciate the transition from the coastal plain of Bari to the Murgia plateau.

After Bitetto, the landscape changes. Urban presence decreases, and rural roads, olive groves, dry stone walls, and increasingly isolated agricultural areas begin.

Arriving in Cassano delle Murge also introduces the first wooded areas typical of Alta Murgia.

Cassano delle Murge - Santeramo in Colle

Average distance: about 24-26 km

Average time: 6-7 hours

Difficulty: medium

The landscape becomes much more rural, with long stretches through fields, woods, farms, and often isolated secondary roads.

Santeramo in Colle - Altamura

Average distance: about 20-22 km

Average time: 5-6 hours

Difficulty: medium-easy

After the more isolated stages of the Murgia, arriving in Altamura brings the journey back to a much livelier urban setting.

The route still crosses agricultural areas and open countryside, but it ends in Altamura's historic center.

Altamura is famous not just for its bread. It also hosts the Museo dell'Uomo di Altamura, dedicated to the famous Paleolithic Neanderthal discovery. Plus, it has beautiful spots like the pulo.

Altamura - Gravina in Puglia

Average distance: about 20 km

Average time: 5-6 hours

Difficulty: medium

This stage alternates between long stretches of open countryside and views closer to the ravines.

Arriving in Gravina in Puglia is one of the most scenic moments of the Via Peuceta. Suddenly, you see stone bridges, karst canyons, and rocky settings. These are very different from the more open Murgia of earlier stages.

Gravina in Puglia - Picciano

Average distance: about 30 km

Average time: 7-8 hours

Difficulty: challenging

This is often considered one of the most challenging but also one of the most beautiful stages.

You pass through the Bosco Difesa Grande. In the forest, there's the Quercus rest stop, handy for water and snacks.

Picciano - Matera

Average distance: about 16-18 km

Average time: 4-5 hours

Difficulty: medium-easy

The last stage gradually leads you to Matera's rocky landscapes.

Near the end, the path passes close to the Crypt of the Original Sin. It crosses increasingly scenic areas before reaching the Sassi.

Arriving in Matera is one of the journey's highlights, especially entering the Sassi after days spent among countryside and ravines.

The Via Peuceta requires some physical preparation.

The main challenges often come from:

the length of some stages;

the heat in summer months;

long rural stretches with few services;

sun exposure in some Murgia areas.

Don't expect organization like the Camino de Santiago.

This means it's important to book accommodations in advance and plan water and breaks well.

To officially walk the path, you need to start with the credential.

You can request the credential through the official Cammino Materano website. It's usually picked up before departure in Bari.

Costs and methods can change over time, so it's best to check updates directly on the official path portal. However, the cost is around 50 euros per day.

The signage uses two colors:

yellow arrow towards Matera;

green arrow towards Bari.

The Via Peuceta can be traveled in both directions.

The best times are generally:

spring;

early autumn.

Summer can become very challenging, especially in the Murgia areas more exposed to the sun.