Matera is at its best in spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October). The Sassi are in a ravine and face south; summer temperatures can exceed 35°C, and the stone amplifies the heat significantly. July and August are also the peak tourist months, when the cave streets are crowded and accommodation must be booked months in advance.
Winter is quiet and cool but not cold — snow is rare — and the Sassi in off-season have an eerie emptiness that is, for some visitors, the most atmospheric time to see them.
The city's major festival is the Festa della Madonna della Bruna on 2 July, when an elaborate papier-mâché float carrying the Madonna is processed through the streets and then ritually torn apart by the crowd at the end of the day. The tradition dates from the 14th century and is worth timing a visit around if you are in the region in early summer.