Across the ravine from the Sassi, the Murgia Timone plateau offers the most dramatic view of Matera — from the far side of the canyon, the cave city unfolds in full relief, with the Civita and the cathedral silhouetted against the sky. The plateau is part of the Parco della Murgia Materana and is dotted with over 150 rupestrian (rock-cut) churches from the Byzantine era, most of them unmarked and many accessible only on foot.
The canyon walk from the belvedere on the far bank back down to the Sasso Caveoso takes about two hours at an easy pace, following paths through the scrub and past openings in the rock face. A guide is not necessary but is useful for finding the less-obvious churches; the park authority in Matera organises guided excursions in the mornings. Take water and decent footwear — the path is rocky.