This restaurant is right at next to the Chiesa di San Pietro Caveoso in Matera. The service is exceptional and the food was perfect for a lunch on a warm day in Matera. Had an excellent plate of pasta – braised beef under tagliatelle with a special pistachio sauce. So good. There is outside seating and you’ll be able to see up to the sassi and watch the Cathedral visitors come and go.
Keiv Ristorante
City: Matera
Region: Basilicata
About the Region:
Basilicata, tucked between Puglia and Calabria in southern Italy, remains one of the country’s most overlooked treasures. Visiting Basilicata feels like stepping into a secret Italy, where ancient traditions and dramatic landscapes remain untouched by mass tourism.
The region’s crown jewel is Matera, a city carved into stone, famous for its Sassi cave dwellings that have been continuously inhabited for thousands of years. Walking through Matera’s labyrinth of cave homes, rock churches, and winding staircases feels like traveling back in time. The city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is stunning at sunrise or sunset, when golden light casts shadows over its stone facades.
Beyond Matera, Basilicata offers rugged natural beauty. Explore the wild Pollino National Park, Italy’s largest, where ancient pine trees, limestone peaks, and river gorges create a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. Visit the hill town of Castelmezzano, dramatically clinging to jagged cliffs, and experience the thrill of the “Flight of the Angel” zip line over its spectacular valley.
Basilicata’s coastline along the Tyrrhenian Sea is small but breathtaking, especially the seaside town of Maratea with its hidden pebble beaches, rocky coves, and towering Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the azure waters below.
Food in Basilicata is humble and flavorful: spicy peperoncini, hearty lamb dishes, handmade pasta, and robust wines like Aglianico del Vulture.
For travelers who crave authenticity, dramatic scenery, and quiet discoveries, Basilicata offers an unforgettable journey into Italy’s soulful and ancient heart.