Cammino Materano: Bari to Matera on the Via Peuceta
Walk 170km across ancient landscapes on the Via Peuceta, connecting Bari and Matera. Discover the raw beauty and timeless culture of southern Italy's most captivating region.
A Piedi Per Il Mondo
In this article
Table of Contents
- Starting Point: Bari
- Distance: 170 km
- Difficulty: T/Hiking
- Stages: 7
The Cammino Materano from Bari to Matera, also known as Via Peuceta, is a truly beautiful route accessible to all levels. It allows you to discover at a leisurely pace lesser-known areas untouched by mass tourism, a territory of remarkable landscape, artistic, historical and above all gastronomic value.
Spanning 170km and walkable in 7 days, the Via Peuceta departs from the Basilica of San Nicola in Bari and traverses locations such as Altamura and Gravina in Puglia, culminating in Matera, the city of stones, a UNESCO World Heritage site and European Capital of Culture 2019. The route crosses olive groves, oak forests, karst zones, ravines and limestone canyons (typical of the Puglian territory), and the extensive Murgia plateau.
The 5 Routes of the Cammino Materano
Though the term "cammino" might be misleading, the Cammino Materano is not a historic pilgrimage route like the Camino de Santiago or the Via Francigena. Rather, it is a network of trails, traced and built along footpaths and ancient drove roads, designed to guide walkers in discovering at a leisurely pace remote regions of southern Italy, largely unexplored and unaffected by mainstream tourism.
Walking is indeed the perfect way to promote sustainable, year-round tourism in the South that respects local realities. Those who walk develop a particular sensitivity towards the places they pass through and the people they meet, enriching the quality of experience for all involved.
Overall, the regions involved are Puglia, Basilicata, Abruzzo and Campania. To date, 5 Routes for the Cammino Materano have been designed, almost all leading to Matera. Currently, only the Via Peuceta, discussed in this article, and the Via Ellenica have been activated and are walkable. Work is ongoing on the others.
Here are the 5 Routes of the Cammino Materano:
- Via Peuceta – from Bari to Matera – active
- Via Ellenica – from Brindisi to Matera – active
- Via Sveva – from Trani to Matera – not active
- Via Dauna – from Termoli to Matera – not active
- Via Lucana – from Matera to Paestum – not active
Stages of the Cammino Materano from Bari to Matera
The Cammino Materano from Bari to Matera (Via Peuceta) is generally divided into 7 stages, ranging from 17km to 30km in length. The stages are mandatory, meaning you cannot stop overnight at an intermediate location.
Apart from the last two, which present some challenges due to length and elevation, they are characterised by being simple and suitable for all fitness levels. Each stage ends at a town in the Puglian interior, equipped with all necessary services, including pharmacy, supermarket, medical clinic and accommodation.
Here is the list of stages:
- Stage 1 – from Bari to Bitetto
- 17km +175m -35m
- Stage 2 – from Bitetto to Cassano delle Murge
- 25km +240m -40m
- Stage 3 – from Cassano delle Murge to Santeramo in Colle
- 22km +300m -160m
- Stage 4 – from Santeramo in Colle to Altamura
- 24.5km +250m -255m
- Stage 5 – from Altamura to Gravina in Puglia
- 20km +145m -270m
- Stage 6 – from Gravina in Puglia to Picciano
- 30km +545m -460m
- Stage 7 – from Picciano to Matera
- 29.5km +450m -500m
- Stage 7bis – from Picciano to Matera
- 17km +285m -335m
Difficulty of the Cammino Materano from Bari to Matera
The Via Peuceta, the Cammino Materano from Bari to Matera, is a simple route accessible to all, classified as T/Tourist on the hiking difficulty scale. It is therefore perfect for those embarking on their first multi-day walking journey and wishing to do so safely. Certainly, as it is a multi-day trek, it's wise to evaluate everything carefully, so here are a few elements to consider.
- ● Elevation Gain – The Via Peuceta has a total elevation change of approximately 3800m (combined ascents and descents), which is not excessive when spread over 7 days of walking. If you're new to this and unsure what such elevation means for your body, I recommend doing a mountain hike first and tracking your activity with an app or sports watch. This will help you better understand the physical demands and how your body responds to a certain amount of elevation.
- ● Mandatory Stages – The Via Peuceta has mandatory stages. This means there are no accommodation options or villages at intermediate points along the stages, so you cannot adjust your stops based on your needs. Honestly, I don't think this is a major issue; the stages are well-proportioned with minimal elevation. A bit of training before departure and you'll be fine.
- ● Carrying a 7-8kg Backpack – The weight I've indicated is just an estimate of what your backpack might weigh for the Cammino Materano from Bari to Matera. Much depends on how skilled you are at selecting clothing and equipment for your walking journey. Bear in mind that along some stages there are no refreshment stops or water sources, so you need to carry provisions for the day. Additional kilograms to add to your pack's total weight.
Trail Marking on the Cammino Materano
Walkers undertaking the Via Peuceta can rely on excellent trail marking in yellow and green, consistently present throughout the entire route. Arrows painted on trees, stones and rocks indicate the direction, yellow painted arrows and green-yellow bands, also painted. In towns, walkers are guided with the help of stickers, some green with yellow arrows, others with overlapping green-yellow bands.
Marking is positioned at junctions and at approximately 300m intervals, a great help in avoiding getting lost or quickly realizing if you've taken a wrong turn. After all, a moment of distraction can happen to anyone!
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