After a couple of hours from the departure, mostly flat stretches and downhill, i catch sight of the large basin of the Oasi di San Giuliano; the water level – which varies depending on the season – is visibly lower than what appears from the map and satellite photos.

Along the shore of this artificial lake there is a pine forest with a picnic area where i stop for a brief rest, but soon i continue at a good pace ignoring possible detours; there’s one i would have gladly taken to go to the “cripta del peccato originale” but the forecast announces rain and my plan is to arrive in Matera as dry as possible.

After passing the oasis and the dam, i walk along the shore of the gravina del Bradano, and from there you can see the honeycomb of cavities dug by humans on the opposite wall of the canyon.

When I arrive to cross the state road i’m almost two thirds of the way; there’s a bar at the service station, the only point of refreshment for the entire stage, and at the cash desk they wish me a good walk. not long after i have to cross the torrente Gravina; the ford is not difficult because the water barely reaches my ankles and the bottom is flat, but the cement is covered with slippery moss so it’s best to be careful not to slip along the few meters from one shore to the other.

In the last hour, really tough, there’s a climb of 300 meters; when the climb ends it’s clear that i’ve arrived at the level of the edge of the gravina, but i still can’t see it.

When I emerge for a moment on the edge of the canyon and still the famous Sassi are not visible, I realize that I won’t arrive in Matera frontally: it’s not a picture already visible from afar that gradually enlarges, but you reach it laterally, sideways, almost from behind, and it will show itself to my eyes only when it is definitively ready to do so.

I continue approaching the center skirting the curved edge of the gravina, which for a stretch I lose sight of because between the road and the canyon there is a long and uninterrupted series of buildings. but at the first useful opportunity, a gap towards the precipice, I slip in and finally have my reward: the wonder of the city of Matera and its Sassi are posed before me as if they were not waiting for anything else but my gaze.

In total I spent 6 and a half hours from Santuario di Picciano to the center of Matera, and i did very well to keep a brisk pace because soon the city is hit by a very intense downpour.
for the two nights in Matera i chose the Ostello dei Sassi which is in an excellent position, is well equipped and the managers are available for various advice.