Hidden gem
Sassi di Matera
Matera, Italy
Sassi di Matera
A whole town of cave houses and rock churches carved into a ravine in southern Italy.
Checked 6 October 2026
The Sassi are Matera's two ancient cave districts, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, stacked up the side of a limestone gorge, with frescoed rock churches inside the cliff and the Murgia plateau facing them across the ravine. The streets are free to walk day and night; you pay only for the churches, cave-house museums and, since 1 March 2026, the Murgia Timone viewpoint across the gorge. There is no mainline railway, so plan the trip in from Bari before anything else.
About Sassi di Matera
Matera is a town in Basilicata, the instep of the Italian boot, whose old quarters are cut into the side of a ravine called the Gravina. The two Sassi, Caveoso and Barisano, sit either side of the Civita hill and its 13th-century Romanesque cathedral. Houses, churches, cisterns and stables are partly built and partly dug into the soft limestone, so that one family's roof is often the next family's street.
UNESCO calls it the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean. People lived in the caves here from the Palaeolithic onwards; from the 8th century the town spread out of the Civita into the two Sassi. Across the gorge, the Murgia plateau has a Neolithic village and dozens of rock churches, and UNESCO listed the town and the plateau together in 1993 as The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera.
The twist in the story is how recent the cave life was. Families lived in the Sassi with their animals until the 1950s, when the whole population was moved out to new districts to improve sanitation. The empty quarters decayed, then people started coming back from the 1980s. Today many caves are hotels, restaurants and homes again, and Matera was European Capital of Culture in 2019.
It deserves the detour because nothing else in Europe looks like it: walk down from the baroque upper town and the street simply turns into rock. Inside the cliff are frescoed churches such as Santa Maria de Idris and San Pietro Barisano; underneath the main square is a cistern that held 5 million litres of water; and from the far rim of the gorge you see the whole town at once. Film crews know it too: The Passion of the Christ, Ben-Hur and No Time To Die all shot scenes here.
What to see
Santa Maria de Idris and San Giovanni in Monterrone
A rock church on top of the Monterrone outcrop in Sasso Caveoso, joined to an older crypt whose frescoes run from the 12th to the 17th century. The view over the gorge from the outcrop is free; inside costs €4.50 or is part of the 3-church ticket.
Santa Lucia alle Malve
The town's first Benedictine convent for women, dating to the 8th century, cut into the cliff along the Caveoso road with a row of doorways into frescoed cave rooms. On the same church ticket as Idris and San Pietro Barisano.
San Pietro Barisano
The largest rock church in Matera, in Sasso Barisano. Under the floor are traces of a 12th–13th-century cave church; side chapels hold 15th–16th-century frescoes. Opens a little later than the others (10:00–19:00 in the 2026 summer hours).
Storica Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario
A cave house in Sasso Caveoso furnished with the original furniture and tools from the time a family lived there. The €8 ticket also covers an ice store, a natural cave and the rock church of Sant'Agostino al Casalnuovo; there is a multilingual audio commentary.
Palombaro Lungo
A huge 16th-century water cistern under Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 16 metres deep and 50 metres long, lined with waterproof cocciopesto plaster. You walk on gangways above the water. €3, about 15 minutes, no booking; at busy times you wait a few minutes at the door.
Belvedere di Murgia Timone
The viewpoint on the far side of the ravine, where you see the whole of the Sassi at once. Since 1 March 2026 it is a ticketed park area (€10 April–October, €7 November–March; half price under 25) that includes a shuttle to the belvedere and the rock church of San Falcione.
Sentiero 406 and the suspension bridge
The trail from Porta Pistola in Sasso Caveoso down into the gorge, across a 70-metre suspension bridge over the Gravina stream and up to Murgia Timone. The park reckons 2 hours and about 6 km to the Jazzo Gattini visitor centre. Ticket €15 April–October, €10 in winter; proper walking shoes are compulsory.
MUSMA
A museum of modern and contemporary sculpture in Palazzo Pomarici, with part of the collection set in the caves under the palace. €10, quiet even when the lanes are busy.
Sassi di Matera tickets: which to buy and where
The Sassi themselves are free; the paid sites are run by several different organisations. For the rock churches, the official seller is the Oltre l'Arte cooperative, which manages the urban rupestrian church circuit: buy the 3-church ticket (€10) or the 8-site ticket (€25) at its desks or online. The Murgia Timone viewpoint and Sentiero 406 have their own ticket from the park's concessionaire, which catches out people who expect to walk across the ravine for free.
The official ticket site
Oltre l'Arte – Chiese Rupestri Matera
The cooperative that runs the urban rock church circuit (Santa Maria de Idris with San Giovanni in Monterrone, Santa Lucia alle Malve, San Pietro Barisano), the Casa Grotta in Via Fiorentini, Vicinato a Pozzo and the cathedral and MATA route. Domain oltrelartematera.it. Other sites have their own official sellers: visitparcomurgia.it (Murgia Timone and Sentiero 406), casagrotta.it (Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario), musma.it (MUSMA). The town's official tourism portal is materawelcome.it.
3 rock churches (Oltre l'Arte)
€10 adult; 1 church €4.50, 2 churches €8; €7.50 reduced; under 10 free with a parent
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Santa Maria de Idris with San Giovanni in Monterrone, Santa Lucia alle Malve, San Pietro Barisano
- Best for
- Most visitors; queues are short, so buying at the church desk is fine
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Biglietto unico 8 sites (Oltre l'Arte)
€25 adult; €16 reduced
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- The 3 rock churches, Vicinato a Pozzo, Casa Grotta in Via Fiorentini, cathedral and MATA diocesan museum route, Purgatorio church exhibition, Museo del Pane
- Best for
- A full day in the Sassi; the churches, Vicinato a Pozzo, cathedral route, Via Fiorentini cave house and Museo del Pane alone cost €27 separately
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Murgia Timone access ticket
€10 (1 April–31 October), €7 (1 November–31 March); €10.70 / €7.70 when booked online; under 25 half price (€5.70 / €4.20 online); under 6 free
Official ticketsDoes not skip lines
- Includes
- Trails of the Murgia Timone area, rock church of San Falcione, Jazzo Gattini visitor centre, shuttle to and from the belvedere, toilets
- Best for
- Arriving by car or taxi on the plateau side for the viewpoint
Parco Sassi (official concessionaire of the Ente Parco della Murgia Materana) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Sentiero 406 access ticket
€15 (1 April–31 October), €10 (1 November–31 March); €15.70 / €10.70 when booked online; under 25 half price (€8.20 / €5.70 online); under 6 free
Official ticketsDoes not skip lines
- Includes
- Trail 406 from Porta Pistola, the suspension bridge, plus everything in the Murgia Timone ticket
- Best for
- Walking across the ravine from the Sassi; walking shoes compulsory
Parco Sassi (official concessionaire of the Ente Parco della Murgia Materana) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Storica Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario
€8 adult; €5 over 65s and university students; €3 ages 11–18; 10 and under free
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Furnished cave house, ice store, natural cave and the rock church of Sant'Agostino al Casalnuovo; audio commentary in 10 languages
- Best for
- The most complete furnished cave house; not on the Oltre l'Arte ticket
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Matera Card Silver / Gold
Silver €25; Gold €40
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Silver: the same sites as the 8-site ticket plus Sassi in Miniatura, valid 7 days. Gold adds a guided tour, priority access, the Benedictine abbey at Montescaglioso and Craco
- Best for
- Gold only, if you will also visit Craco and Montescaglioso; Silver costs the same as the 8-site ticket. You must collect a physical card at an Oltre l'Arte desk
Matera Card (Oltre l'Arte) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)
How to buy
- Rock churches: buy at the desk of the first church you reach, or online at oltrelartematera.it (choose date and time; show the order email at the door; tickets are not refundable).
- If you also want Vicinato a Pozzo, the cathedral route and the Via Fiorentini cave house, take the €25 biglietto unico instead of separate tickets.
- Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario, MUSMA and Palombaro Lungo each sell their own tickets at the door (Palombaro Lungo takes no bookings at all).
- For the Murgia, buy the Sentiero 406 ticket (walking from Porta Pistola) or the Murgia Timone ticket (arriving on the plateau side) at visitparcomurgia.it (online it costs €0.70 more per ticket, October 2026) or at the Jazzo Gattini and Porta Pistola points; book guided park tours at least 24 hours ahead.
- Carry ID if you claim a reduction: the park's under-25 and resident rates, and Oltre l'Arte's reduced and free tickets, need a document.
Look-alike sites
There is no single ticket for the Sassi, and that is where confusion starts. The rock church circuit is sold by Oltre l'Arte at oltrelartematera.it and its own desks; the Murgia park by its concessionaire at visitparcomurgia.it, which the park authority (parcomurgia.it) links to from its trail pages; the town's official tourism portal is materawelcome.it. Many privately run cave houses also sell entry, some with names close to the Storica Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario (casagrotta.it): they are legitimate businesses, but check which one your ticket or tour actually includes. Tour platforms sell guided walks that include church entry; they are tours, not official tickets.
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Guided tours of Sassi di Matera
A guided walk is worth it here more than at most sights: the lanes are a maze, there are almost no signs explaining what you are looking at, and the story of how people lived in the caves is the whole point. Two hours is enough for a first visit. On your own, the free views plus the 3-church ticket and one cave house work well, while some of the frescoed churches on the Murgia, such as Madonna delle Tre Porte, are opened mainly on the park's guided visits.
Group walking tour
Tour Guidato Sasso Caveoso
Oltre l'Arte
Run by the cooperative that manages the rock churches. Starts at the Oltre l'Arte info point, Via Bruno Buozzi 91/b. Includes Santa Lucia alle Malve, a typical cave house and a free ticket for Vicinato a Pozzo. Not refundable if you cancel; be there 15 minutes early.
€20; free up to 14
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Small-group or private walking tour
Sassi Tour with Cave House and Rupestrian Church
Martulli Viaggi (sold on GetYourGuide)Local Matera agency, meeting in Via Alessandro Volta. Covers both Sassi, entry to the rock church of Sant'Antonio Abate and a cave-house museum. Guides in English, Italian, Spanish, French and German. Some reviewers say it is hard to hear in larger groups. Free cancellation up to 24 hours.
Group walking tour
Sassi Guided Walking Tour with Rock-Cut Churches and Casa Grotta del Vicinato
HeadoutIncludes entry to Santa Maria de Idris and San Giovanni in Monterrone and to the Casa Grotta del Vicinato. Since the church entry alone is €4.50, the guide costs little extra. Choose the English option at checkout. Free cancellation up to 24 hours.
Guided park walk
Tour delle chiese rupestri (San Falcione and Madonna delle Tre Porte)
Parco Sassi, for the Ente Parco della Murgia Materana
The way to see inside the frescoed churches on the Murgia plateau with a licensed park guide. Starts at the Jazzo Gattini visitor centre; flat, easy path to the belvedere. Book at least 24 hours ahead; refunded if the minimum group size is not reached.
€20 in Italian, €25 in English (park ticket included)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Small-group or private walking tour
Sassi di Matera complete tour
Martulli Viaggi (sold on Musement)A longer version covering both Sassi, Sant'Antonio Abate and Santa Maria de Idris with San Giovanni in Monterrone, a furnished cave house and a small tasting of local bread and taralli. Cathedral entry (€1) extra. Private price is per group of up to 8.
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Sassi di Matera deals and discounts
Matera is cheap by Italian standards and there are no sales to chase. The real savings are the €25 biglietto unico if you want most of the Oltre l'Arte sites, half-price park tickets for under-25s, and the free view from the town side of the gorge.
Biglietto unico, 8 sites for €25
Covers the 3 rock churches, Vicinato a Pozzo, the Via Fiorentini cave house, the cathedral and MATA route, the Purgatorio exhibition and the Museo del Pane. Reduced €16 for the same groups as the reduced church ticket (disabled visitors, FAI members, groups of 20 or more).
Children under 10 free at the rock churches
Oltre l'Arte lets children up to 10 in free with a parent; the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario is free for 10 and under and €3 for ages 11–18; Palombaro Lungo is free for minors.
Half price on the Murgia for under-25s
The Murgia Timone and Sentiero 406 tickets are 50% off for anyone under 25 with ID showing their age; under 6s go free with a parent, and visitors with 100% disability go free with a companion.
Cheaper church entry with a licensed guide
If you hire a licensed guide, Oltre l'Arte charges you €2.50, €4 or €5 for 1, 2 or 3 churches instead of €4.50, €8 or €10, and the guide goes in free.
Matera Card Gold if you add Craco
At €40 it adds a guided tour, Montescaglioso abbey and Craco to the 8-site bundle. The Craco full ticket alone is €16.20, so it only pays off if you go there. The €25 Silver card covers the same sites as the €25 biglietto unico.
Best time to visit Sassi di Matera
Time of day: walk the lanes early, before about 10:00. The stone heats up fast and groups arrive mid-morning; the rock churches open at 9:30 in the summer hours that started on 28 March 2026 (check oltrelartematera.it for the winter timetable). Go to Murgia Timone in the late afternoon for sunset over the Sassi, or straight after opening for clear morning light on the facades.
Season: April to June and September to October are the sweet spot. July and August are hot on the unshaded steps and the Murgia, and August is the most crowded month. Winter is quiet and clear, but Murgia Timone closes at 16:30 from December to February, and the Madonna delle Virtù rock complex, which has a contemporary art exhibition until 28 November 2026, closes at 14:00 in November and December.
Evenings: the Sassi are lit at night and free to wander, which is when they look their best from Via Madonna delle Virtù along the edge of the gorge. Staying overnight in a cave hotel lets you see the town after the day-trippers from Puglia have left.
Dates to note: Oltre l'Arte closes all its sites on 25 December and 2 July, and the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario only opens until 13:30 on 2 July. FAL trains do not run on Sundays and public holidays.
Tips and tricks
Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.
Wear shoes with grip, not sandals
The limestone steps are worn smooth and slippery, and there are hundreds of them. On Sentiero 406 the park turns away anyone in flip-flops or sandals, so bring proper walking shoes if you plan to cross the ravine.
From Parco della Murgia Materana ticket rules, 2026; travel blogs and forum reports, 2025–2026
Budget for the Murgia ticket
Older guides describe the walk across the gorge to Murgia Timone as free. Since 1 March 2026 the trail and the belvedere are ticketed: €15 via Sentiero 406 or €10 to the belvedere from the plateau side from April to October, and €10 or €7 from November to March, with half price for under-25s and a checkpoint at Porta Pistola.
From visitparcomurgia.it and Ente Parco news, 2026
Use the free view first
You do not need to cross the ravine for a classic view: the terrace by Santa Maria de Idris, Via Madonna delle Virtù along the gorge and the squares on the edge of the upper town all look over the Sassi for free.
From Matera Welcome itineraries, 2026
Do the Palombaro Lungo when you pass the main square
The cistern is right under Piazza Vittorio Veneto, takes 15 minutes, costs €3 and cannot be booked. It closes from 13:00 to 15:00 and at 18:00, so fit it in on your way down into the Sassi in the morning.
From palombarolungo.it, 2026
Get off the train underground
Matera Centrale is an underground station with no visible tracks, and visitors have ridden past it. It is the stop for the Sassi; Matera Sud is the end of the line.
From Rick Steves Italy forum
Leave the car outside the ZTL
The Sassi are a restricted traffic zone with cameras, and guests can only drive in if their hotel registers the plate. The town points drivers to the Via Lanera car park, which has a shuttle bus; pay street parking with EasyPark.
From Matera Welcome parking page, 2026; car hire guidance, 2025
Pick one furnished cave house
Several cave houses charge entry. The Storica Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario (€8) is the most complete and adds a church and ice store; the Via Fiorentini cave house is cheaper (€2) and comes with the biglietto unico. One is enough for most people.
From casagrotta.it and oltrelartematera.it, 2026
Drop your bags near the station
Rolling a suitcase down the Sassi steps is miserable. There is a luggage store at Bar Di Pede, Via Nazionale 99, next to Villa Longo FAL station and the long-distance bus stops, open 4:00–23:00.
From Matera Welcome FAQ, 2026
Spot the film locations
Scenes from No Time To Die were filmed in the Sassi, and walking-tour guides often point out the James Bond locations; the park also runs a 2.5-hour film locations tour (€20 in Italian, €25 in English) that ends at the Murgia Timone belvedere.
From visitparcomurgia.it, 2026; GetYourGuide reviews, 2026
How to get to Sassi di Matera
- By train from Bari: Matera has no mainline station. The Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (FAL) line runs from its own Bari Centrale station, entrance at Corso Italia 8 next to the main FS station, to Matera Centrale (underground, the stop for the Sassi). Most trains need a change at Altamura; the journey takes about 1 hour 25 minutes to 2 hours, a little more with a long wait at Altamura, and a single costs €6.20. FAL trains do not run on Sundays and public holidays; check FAL's Sunday and holiday bus timetable instead.
- From Bari airport: Bari Palese is about 55 km away. Shuttle buses to Matera are run by Miccolis, Flixbus, Cotrab and Cotrap; the town portal's list was last updated in August 2024, so check current times on the operators' own sites. You can also take a train from the airport to Bari Centrale and change to the FAL.
- By bus from further away: Marinobus, Flixbus, Marozzi, Itabus and Miccolis run direct coaches from Rome, Naples, Milan and Bari. The nearest Trenitalia station is Ferrandina–Scalo Matera, which still needs a bus or taxi into town.
- By car: from Bari take the SS96 and SS99 via Altamura. The Sassi are a camera-controlled restricted traffic zone, entered from Via D'Addozio (Sasso Barisano) and Via Bruno Buozzi (Sasso Caveoso); only residents, authorised vehicles and hotel guests whose plate has been registered may drive in. Park at Via Lanera (the town's suggested car park, with a shuttle), the Via Saragat multi-storey, Piazza della Visitazione or the blue bays on Via Lucana.
- In town: the upper town and Sassi are walkable but steep. The Linea Sassi bus loops from Via Saragat; the town's published timetable (every 30 minutes, 7:30–20:00) dates from 2024, so check at the stop. For Murgia Timone without walking the 406, drive or take a taxi to the Jazzo Gattini visitor centre; the park ticket includes the shuttle to the belvedere.
Scams and problems to watch for
Street promoters and unofficial guides
People approach visitors in the squares and on the steps offering guided walks or cave visits. The town's tourism office explicitly advises against using promoters or unofficial guides met in the street, and advises booking only through official channels after checking the guide's licence. The tell-tale sign: no named company, no licence, and an approach in the street rather than a booking.
Paying twice for the same sites
The Matera Card Silver (€25) covers the same sites as the €25 biglietto unico, and several tours already include church entry. Check what your tour or card includes before buying separate church tickets at the door.
Cave houses that are mostly a shop
Several privately run caves in the Sassi charge entry, and what you get varies a lot. They are legal, but if you want a proper furnished cave house, go to one of the established ones (Vico Solitario, Via Fiorentini, the Vicinato a Pozzo) and check the name on the ticket before you pay.
ZTL fines on rental cars
Following a satnav into the Sassi takes you through a camera gate; the fine reaches you weeks later through the hire company, which usually adds its own handling charge. If your hotel is in the Sassi, send it your plate before you arrive, or park outside.
Being turned back at Porta Pistola
Visitors who set off for the 406 trail without a ticket or in sandals are now stopped at the Porta Pistola checkpoint. It is not a scam, but it wastes the cool part of the day: buy the ticket online and wear walking shoes.
Accessibility
The Sassi are hard going for anyone with limited mobility: the lanes are steep, uneven and largely stepped, and most tour operators say their walks are unsuitable for people who have difficulty walking. The upper town around Piazza Vittorio Veneto is flatter and easier. Oltre l'Arte gives reduced church tickets (€3.50, €5.50, €7.50) to disabled visitors and has panels with audio, video in Italian Sign Language and 3D models reached by QR code and NFC. The Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario is free for disabled visitors. On the Murgia, visitors with 100% disability and their companion go in free, and the guided rock church tour from the Jazzo Gattini visitor centre follows a flat path; the 406 trail into the gorge is not accessible. Palombaro Lungo is seen from walkways over the water; check step-free access with the site (+39 339 363 8332) before you go.
Combine it with
Murgia Materana Park
The plateau across the ravine, with the Murgia Timone belvedere, a Neolithic village and about 150 rock churches in the wider park. Easiest by car to the Jazzo Gattini visitor centre, or on foot via Sentiero 406; a guided park tour gets you into the frescoed churches.
Alberobello
The trulli town in Puglia, with its conical-roofed stone houses. Many day tours from Bari and Polignano combine it with Matera, and it is the obvious second stop if you have a car.
Bari
The regional capital and the gateway: airport, ferry port and the FAL station for Matera. Its old town and seafront fill the evening before or after the trip.
Craco
An abandoned hilltop town in Basilicata used as a film set (The Passion of the Christ, Quantum of Solace). Oltre l'Arte runs guided walks; the full ticket is €16.20. Daily 9:30–18:30 from April to October, weekends only (Friday–Sunday) 10:00–15:00 in winter. You need a car or a tour.
Questions people ask about visiting Sassi di Matera
Is it free to visit the Sassi di Matera?
Yes, walking the Sassi costs nothing, day or night. You pay for the sites inside: the rock churches (€4.50 each or €10 for all three, as of October 2026), cave-house museums (€2–€8), the Palombaro Lungo cistern (€3) and MUSMA (€10). Since 1 March 2026, the Murgia Timone viewpoint across the ravine is also ticketed (€10 April–October, €7 November–March).
Where do I buy tickets for the rock churches in Matera?
The official seller for Santa Maria de Idris, Santa Lucia alle Malve and San Pietro Barisano is the Oltre l'Arte cooperative, at oltrelartematera.it or at the church desks. The 3-church ticket is €10, and the €25 biglietto unico adds five more sites (October 2026). Booking ahead is optional; online tickets are not refundable.
How do I get from Bari to Matera?
Take the FAL train from its own station at Bari Centrale (entrance Corso Italia 8) to Matera Centrale; most trains change at Altamura, it takes 1.5–2 hours and costs €6.20 (2026 timetable and fares). There are no FAL trains on Sundays and public holidays; check FAL's holiday bus timetable. From Bari airport, Miccolis, Flixbus, Cotrab and Cotrap have run direct shuttles; the town's list dates from 2024, so check the operators' current times.
Can you walk from the Sassi to the Murgia Timone viewpoint?
Yes, on Sentiero 406 from Porta Pistola in Sasso Caveoso, down into the gorge, over a 70-metre suspension bridge and up the far side. The park reckons about 2 hours to the Jazzo Gattini visitor centre. Since 1 March 2026 it needs a ticket (€15 April–October, €10 November–March, half price under 25), and walking shoes are compulsory.
How long do you need in Matera?
One full day covers the Sassi, two or three rock churches, a cave house and the Palombaro Lungo. Add half a day for the Murgia viewpoint or the 406 trail. Two nights lets you see the town lit up after the day-trippers leave.
Is a guided tour of Matera worth it?
For a first visit, usually yes: the lanes are confusing, and the guide's story of cave life up to the 1950s is what makes sense of the place. Two-hour group walks cost €20–€25 and often include church or cave-house entry worth €4.50–€8 (October 2026). To see inside the rock churches on the Murgia plateau, the park's guided tour (€20–€25) is the way in.
When is the best time to visit Matera?
April to June and September to October, starting early in the morning. July and August are hot on the steps and the unshaded Murgia, and August is the busiest month. Come back at dusk, when the Sassi are lit.
More sights in Italy
Accademia Gallery
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- From
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Colosseum
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Rome's great amphitheatre, with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on the same ticket.
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Before you go
The things that apply at every big sight: booking ahead, what skip-the-line really means, and the scams that follow tourists everywhere.