How many routes are there?

The Routes of the Cammino Materano that, as of summer 2024, are officially open—fully or partially—are three:

the Via Peuceta from Bari to Matera: 170 km over 7 stages
the Via Ellenica from Alberobello to Matera: 170 km over 8 stages
the Via Lucana from Tricarico to Matera: 114 km over 6 stages

The other routes, shown in gray on the map, have been planned but are not yet active. The work required to open a pilgrimage route is long and complex, and goes well beyond simply installing trail markers.

Note: The Via Ellenica originally started in Brindisi, but the first stretch to Alberobello was later excluded and labeled as a “variant” (click here if you’re interested in the reasons).

Which routes are covered on this website

I walked both the Via Peuceta and the Via Ellenica, connecting them from Bari > Matera > Alberobello: a total of 340 km and 15 stages, which I completed in 16 days, taking two nights in Matera to dedicate a full day to exploring this incredible city and its surroundings (and by the way: it’s totally worth it!).

Therefore, you won’t find any information on the Via Lucana on this site, as I haven’t walked it. The travel diary and trip report refer only to the Peuceta and Ellenica routes, the latter of which I walked in the opposite direction to the “official” one. Not only this is possible, but I actually recommend it to those who can spare at least two weeks for the journey instead of 7–8 days.

If you only have one week

For those with no more than seven or eight days available, I recommend the Via Peuceta for a simple logistical reason: since it starts in Bari, it’s easily accessible (with both an airport and a train station), so no additional transfers are needed—you’ll be right at the starting point. If you’re arriving by train (especially from northern Italy: Piedmont, Lombardy, or Liguria), check out the night trains that depart in the evening and bring you directly to San Nicola’s city at dawn, ready to start walking. Even if you spent the night in a sleeper and didn’t get the best rest, don’t worry: the first stage to Bitetto is quite easy.

If you arrive in Bari the day before, you can enjoy a stroll through Bari Vecchia, taste some local specialties, and visit the Cathedral and the Norman-Swabian Castle at your leisure. And if you want to get into the pilgrim spirit right away, there’s a good hostel near the center.

Peuceta or Ellenica: which is better?

There’s no route that’s objectively better—it depends on what you’re looking for.

Here are the differences I personally noticed:

The Via Peuceta is a bit cheaper: There are more hostels compared to the Ellenica (including a couple of donativo options), and the B&Bs tend to be more affordable. So if you’re budget-conscious, overnight stays will be cheaper on average.
The Via Peuceta is a bit more lively: You’ll have a slightly better chance (though never guaranteed) of meeting other pilgrims, especially if you depart on a weekend. So unless you’re specifically seeking solitude, this is the better choice if you’d like to make new connections and share parts of the journey.
The Via Peuceta is slightly tougher: Both routes are easy overall, and the total distances are roughly equal. However, the Ellenica has one more stage, so the average daily kilometers are slightly lower. Also, the last two stages of the Peuceta are a bit more challenging (30 km with little water available).
The Via Ellenica is more scenic: It offers stunning landscapes (including Alberobello) not found on the Peuceta, which can feel a bit more monotonous.

To sum up:

Choose the Via Ellenica if:

You’re fine staying mostly in B&Bs
You absolutely want to see the gravine (large canyons typical of the region)
You don’t mind being alone on the trail
You have at least a couple more days: since the Ellenica has 8 stages and requires some travel time from Bari or Brindisi to reach the starting point, it’s hard to begin the walk on the same day you arrive—especially if you’re coming from far away

Choose the Via Peuceta if: