Belvedere Murgia Timone Hike: The Best Viewpoint in Matera

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Is the Belvedere Murgia Timone Hike Worth Doing?

Absolutely, if you like hiking and outdoor adventures, you’ll love this hike. We really enjoyed doing it as a family, and the views from Belvedere Murgia Timone are incredible.

From the viewpoint, you can see the entire city of Matera spread out across the opposite side of the canyon, with its famous cave dwellings, churches and stone buildings creating one of the most distinctive landscapes in Italy.

What makes the experience even more special is the journey to get there. Rather than simply driving to a viewpoint, you’ll walk across a dramatic suspension bridge over the gorge. Followed by a hike up through the rugged landscape of the Murgia Materana Park. Experiencing a quieter side of the region that many visitors never see.

We completed the hike as a family and found it to be one of the most memorable parts of our time in Matera. The combination of adventure, history and incredible scenery made it feel like much more than just a viewpoint.

If you’re visiting Matera and enjoy walking, photography or exploring beyond the main tourist sights, I would absolutely recommend making time for the Belvedere Murgia Timone Hike.

What Is Belvedere Murgia Timone?

Belvedere Murgia Timone is a spectacular viewpoint located within the Murgia Materana Park, on the opposite side of the Gravina canyon from Matera’s famous Sassi. From here, you’ll enjoy what is probably the most iconic view of Matera, looking back across the canyon towards the ancient cave dwellings, churches and stone buildings that have made the city famous.

While many visitors spend their time exploring the narrow streets of the Sassi, Belvedere Murgia Timone offers a completely different perspective. While we loved Matera, read our full guide here. Seeing Matera from across the canyon helps you appreciate just how dramatic the setting is, with the city seemingly carved directly into the rock face.

The viewpoint sits within the protected Murgia Materana Park, a vast landscape of canyons, caves, ancient rock churches and archaeological sites that has been recognised as part of Matera’s UNESCO World Heritage designation. The area is rich in history, with evidence of human settlement dating back thousands of years.

How to Get to the Trailhead

We visited Matera as part of a 10 day Southern Italy road trip, full details linked here. I would highly recommend stopping a day or two in Matera itself if you get the opportunity. Make sure to read our full guide on Matera next.

The trail starts and finishes in the city of Matera itself. Just off a road called Via Madonna delle Virtù, Google Maps location linked here. The entrance leads you onto the #406 trail route, which is easy to follow.

However, you need to buy tickets from the shop just a few steps away. There was a staff member there directing you to it. (More on this below).

It is possible to drive to the viewpoint and park a short distance away (car park location linked here). From the car park, the viewpoint is around a 30-minute walk. It’s flatter, but not quite as scenic.

In my opinion, walking the #406 trail is the best way to experience Belvedere Murgia Timone, as the journey is every bit as impressive as the destination.

The New Rules & Entrance Fee: Must Know Before You Go

Two things shocked me before we’d even started this hike. Firstly, you have to pay to do it and secondly, the strict rules they have in place.

You are not allowed to enter unless you’re wearing proper trainers with grip or hiking boots. There was a man at the start of the trail checking tickets and stopping people from entering if they didn’t have proper footwear.

He actually told us that our shoes weren’t suitable. As we’d already planned to do this hike and my 6-year-old was particularly excited about it, we had to go to a store to buy new shoes before we could get going. This involved climbing a lot of stairs to the top of Matera’s new town. Not at all ideal with two young children!

Once our footwear was sorted, we headed back down. My husband went in to buy the tickets, and I waited outside with the kids. They even made us all go inside so they could check the shoes before allowing us to purchase the tickets!

From April to October, tickets cost €15 per person. The rest of the year, they cost €10. Those under 25 get 50% off with proof of age, and those under 6 walk for free with a paying adult.

The ticket prices seemed to be a new addition, as I’d read this hike was free on other blogs.

Walking the #406 Trail

So, make sure you have appropriate footwear, purchase your ticket and head to the entrance.

From the entrance, the trail starts descending into the Gravina canyon. The path is rocky in places and uneven underfoot, but overall, we didn’t find it particularly difficult.

The route then leads down to the suspension bridge, which allows you to cross the gorge to the other side. Crossing the bridge was one of the highlights of the hike for us and offered some fantastic views of Matera.

On the other side, you’ll begin the climb upwards towards the Belvedere Murgia Timone viewpoint. This is the most challenging part of the hike, but it’s also where the views really start to open up. The higher you go, the more you’ll be treated to increasingly impressive views of Matera and the famous Sassi.

Before you get to the top, take some time to explore. You’ll find a number of ancient caves carved into the rock, some of which would once have been used as homes, shelters and places of worship. It’s fascinating to imagine how people lived in this landscape centuries ago.

There are museums in the main town which will show you exactly how the people of Matera used to live. I’ve written full details in my full Matera guide, linked here.

When you make it to the top, standing at the Belvedere Murgia Timone viewpoint and looking back across the canyon towards Matera, it is an unforgettable sight and one of the very best viewpoints in southern Italy.

Returning to Matera After the Hike

Once you reach the summit, you have the option to walk back the way you came, which is probably what I would recommend.

Alternatively, you can walk to the car park (about half an hour flat walk) and take a public bus down to the town. We decided to do this as we were doing the hike with our two young children. The public bus costs an additional €1.50 per adult.

Make sure to take note of the bus timetable. They didn’t run very often, and we ended up having to wait an hour and a half for the service to resume. If we had known this, we would probably have walked the way we came.

There is a cafe and toilets located next to the car park, so we got a drink while we waited.

There is a free shuttle bus that can take you from the viewpoint to the car park, but again, it didn’t seem to be very regular.

Hiking to Belvedere Murgia Timone With Kids

We completed this Matera hike with our two children, who were aged 6 and 3 years old at the time. Both our children are excellent at walking and genuinely enjoyed the trail. Particularly crossing the suspension bridge and exploring the caves at the viewpoint.

The path is steep and uneven in places, with loose rocks, steps and some uphill sections, so it won’t be suitable for every child. However, older children who enjoy walking and exploring should be able to complete the hike without too much difficulty. Personally, I’m not much of a hiker myself, and I managed it just fine!

If you have young children, be prepared that you might need to carry them for at least part of the route, ideally in a carrier.

What I loved most about this experience was how wholesome it felt. Rather than rushing between attractions, we spent time outdoors together, enjoying the scenery, spotting caves and taking in the incredible views across the canyon. It was a completely different experience from exploring Matera’s winding streets, and ended up being one of our favourite family activities during the trip.

If you’re visiting Matera with children who enjoy being active, I’d definitely recommend considering this hike. Just make sure you bring plenty of water, snacks and take your time!

Tips for the Hike

Below are a few tips for enjoying this beautiful Matera Hike.

• Wear hiking boots or trainers (sneakers) with grip – this is mandatory, not optional. (Or they won’t let you enter).
• Pack drinks and snacks – other than in the town before you start, and the cafe at the top of the hike, there is nowhere to buy food and drinks. We packed a picnic, and it was lovely to sit, eat and enjoy the view.
• Don’t rush – especially if you’re hiking with kids. The hike itself isn’t particularly long, but you’ll want time to stop at the suspension bridge, explore the caves and enjoy the views from Belvedere Murgia Timone. It’s worth allowing at least a few hours. We spent half a day.
• Bring Sun Protection – there is little shade in some parts of the hike. A hat, sunscreen and plenty of water are essential, particularly if you’re hiking with children.
• Check the Latest Ticket Information – access rules have changed recently, and visitors now need to pay to enter the protected area. They dont currently seem to have a website, but it’s worth checking if that has changed so there are no surprises on the day.
• Take a Camera – this sounds obvious, but the views from Belvedere Murgia Timone are genuinely some of the best in Matera. If you’re interested in photography, you’ll definitely want to capture the view across the canyon towards the Sassi. All our photos are shot on iPhone!

FAQs on the Belvedere Murgia Timone Hike

Final Thoughts on the Belvedere Murgia Timone hike in Matera

The Belvedere Murgia Timone Hike was one of our favourite experiences in Matera and something I would recommend to anyone visiting the city.

While exploring the Sassi is an absolute must, seeing Matera from across the Gravina canyon gives you a completely different perspective and helps you appreciate just how extraordinary this landscape really is. The combination of dramatic scenery, ancient caves, the suspension bridge and the incredible views from the viewpoint itself makes this much more than just your average walk.

We particularly enjoyed completing the hike as a family. It felt like a real outdoor adventure. Seeing our children explore the caves and take in the views made it one of the most memorable parts of our trip.

If you’re looking for the best viewpoint in Matera, I genuinely don’t think you can do better than Belvedere Murgia Timone. Just remember to wear good shoes, bring plenty of water and allow enough time to enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

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Thank you so much for reading our guide on the Matera hike to Belvedere Murgia Timone. We hope you have a lovely visit to Matera. Be sure to read our full Matera guide, linked here next.

After Matera, we continued our Southern Italy road trip to the Amalfi Coast; if you’re doing the same, we have lots of guides on the area, linked here.