Climbing the Caves of Matera, Italy 🇮🇹 | Rope Bridge, Epic Views & Regretful Footwear!
We took on one of Matera’s most iconic walks — crossing the rope bridge and climbing to the ancient cave dwellings for panoramic views over the Sassi… and let’s just say, it wasn’t as easy as Instagram makes it look.
From questionable footwear choices to rickety bridges, sweaty climbs, and carrying our dog Rufus across the gaps (yes, really), this was one adventure we won’t forget.
If you’re planning to visit Matera, Italy, especially the famous Sassi cave dwellings, this vlog shows you exactly what the walk is really like — including timings, terrain, and whether it’s worth it.
👋 About Us
We’re Adam and Lizzie — a married couple in our mid-to-late 30s who decided we wanted more than commutes and calendars.
Earlier this year, we:
Rented out our home
Bought a motorhome
Hit the road with our dog, Rufus
Started exploring Europe with no fixed plan
Now we’re travelling full-time, learning, laughing, arguing (a little), and figuring it out one country at a time.
📍 In This Video:
Exploring the historic town of Matera
The famous ridge walk to the caves
Crossing the rope bridge (terrifying… slightly)
The steep descent and even steeper climb back
Honest advice about footwear (don’t wear fashion trainers!)
Whether sunset with wine would’ve been a better idea 🍷
Ice cream reward at the end 🍦
🗺️ What You Need to Know About the Matera Cave Walk:
Approx. 15-minute descent
Around 30-minute climb back up
Sandy, slippery terrain in places
Rope bridge crossing (not for the faint-hearted!)
Totally worth it for the views
Don’t believe everything you see on Instagram — here’s the reality.
If you enjoy:
✔ Motorhome travel Europe
✔ Travelling with a dog
✔ Italian hidden gems
✔ Honest travel vlogs
✔ Couple travel dynamics
✔ Scenic hikes with epic views
You’ll love this one.
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Next up… a volcano climb and pizza in Lucca 🍕
#Matera #SassiDiMatera #ItalyTravel #MotorhomeLife #VanLifeEurope #TravelWithDog #CoupleTravel #EuropeanRoadTrip #ItalyVlog #fulltimetravelfamily
0:00 Intro
0:44 Us
1:14 Location
3:25 View of Matera
5:55 Rope Bridge
9:24 View from the top
15:12 Ice cream
15:33 Bloopers
16:35 Next vlog