Murgia Timone Viewpoint

The view of the Sassi from the other side, the one from the films: the two cave districts stacked above the Gravina ravine, with the cathedral at the top. The Murgia Timone viewpoint is on the plateau of the Murgia Materana Park, across the ravine. Since 2026 it is paid: €7 from November to March and €10 from April to October, with the shuttle to the viewpoint included.

What you see and why it matters

The viewpoint looks out over the edge of the Gravina right opposite the Sasso Caveoso. From here you understand the city at a glance: the stepped excavated façades, the rock churches, the Civita and the cathedral above, and the ravine cut sheer between them. At sunset the stone turns golden and then the lights of the Sassi come on.

The plateau you stand on has its own history. The Murgia park, with its rock churches, entered the World Heritage list in 1993 together with the Sassi. Around the viewpoint there are remains of a Neolithic settlement, with ditches, huts and Bronze Age tombs in small caves, and several churches dug into the rock, such as San Falcione or the Madonna delle Tre Porte. The ground is rock and low scrub, with almost no trees.

Tickets and what they include

The Murgia Timone ticket costs €10 from 1 April to 31 October and €7 from 1 November to 31 March. It includes the network of trails in the area, access to San Falcione, the services of the Jazzo Gattini visitor centre, the shuttle to the viewpoint and the toilets. There are reductions and free entry for some categories. The ticket office is at the visitor centre. Also read the Murgia tickets page.

The Madonna delle Tre Porte and some underground spaces are visited only with the park's guided activities.

Getting there

There are two ways:

• By car, from the Murgia side. Go to the Jazzo Gattini visitor centre, on the plateau, which has a ticket office and parking. From there, the shuttle takes you to the viewpoint. It is the option for families and for anyone who does not want to go down into the ravine.
• On foot, across the Gravina. Trail 406 leaves from Porta Pistola, in the Sasso Caveoso, goes down to the bottom of the ravine, crosses the suspension footbridge and climbs to the Murgia. It has its own ticket and is more demanding.

From 3 to 18 November 2026 trail 406 is closed for works from Porta Pistola to the footbridge. On those days the park is entered only via Jazzo Gattini.

When to go

At sunset, for the light on the city, and in the morning hours if you want to photograph the façades with the sun in front of them. In summer the plateau has no shade: avoid midday and bring water. In winter the plateau is open to the wind: bring a coat.

Check the visitor centre and shuttle timetable before going, especially if you want to stay for sunset: the park does not publish it in a fixed table for the whole year.

With children

It is a plan that works for families: with the shuttle there is no effort and children can peer into the caves and the Neolithic settlement. Keep an eye on them at the viewpoint: the edge of the Gravina is a drop. Always walk on the marked paths and walkways, which protect the archaeological remains.

Allow time

Between one and two hours: reaching the visitor centre, going up on the shuttle, the viewpoint, a rock church and the settlement. If you come on foot by the 406, add about two hours' walk.

For the rest of the day, return to the city and go down to the Sassi, which at night are seen from inside the way you have just seen them from outside.