Crapiata Festival
The ancient festival of the neighbourhood and the cereal and legume soup in the Sassi
About Crapiata Materana
The symbolic soup of Matera
Crapiata is one of the most iconic dishes of Matera's peasant cuisine: a humble soup prepared by cooking together broad beans, borlotti beans, chickpeas, grass peas, lentils, and wheat, using up the year's stored provisions. The Crapiata Festival celebrates this dish every August 1st, in the alleys of the Sassi, transforming a recipe born of necessity into a grand collective ritual.
The neighbourhood feast
Crapiata is an ancient neighbourhood feast, celebrating the community of houses facing the same courtyard that characterized life in the Sassi. It was celebrated at the end of the harvest, after the religious celebrations dedicated to the Madonna della Bruna, the city's patron saint: each family brought a handful of their own legumes and cereals, which were cooked together in a large cauldron and shared by everyone. A gesture that embodies the deep sense of solidarity and community in Matera.
A living tradition since 1972
Since 1972, Crapiata in the Sassi has been a popular tradition carried on by Nino Festa and his friends in Sasso Barisano, one of the city's longest-standing events. Today, the event takes place in multiple districts: on the evening of August 1st, the tasting is held in both Sasso Barisano (near the small church of Sant'Antonio Abate) and Sasso Caveoso (in Via Bruno Buozzi, at the small square of Madonna dell'Adris), often accompanied by folk music and wine tasting.
The Sassi, a natural setting
Experiencing Crapiata means immersing yourself in the authenticity of Matera, the city of the Sassi and Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026. Amidst the millennia-old stones, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the festival preserves the convivial spirit of the neighbourhood, on one of the most cherished evenings of the Materan summer.
Crapiata Materana — edition 2026
For 2026, the Crapiata Festival renews its appointment on August 1st, one of the most cherished dates of the Materan summer. In the evening, in the Sassi districts, the community gathers around large cauldrons to cook and share crapiata, following the ancient neighbourhood ritual.
As in previous years, the tasting is likely to take place in several locations within the Sassi, from Sasso Barisano to Sasso Caveoso, often accompanied by folk music and wine tasting.
Programme Crapiata Materana 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition will be announced by the district committees closer to the event. The traditional structure includes:
- Evening of August 1st: preparation and cooking of crapiata in large cauldrons;
- Sasso Barisano: tasting near the small church of Sant'Antonio Abate (historic Crapiata by Nino Festa);
- Sasso Caveoso: tasting in Via Bruno Buozzi, at the small square of Madonna dell'Adris;
- Accompanying events: folk music and wine tasting.
Highlights Crapiata Materana 2026
Prices Crapiata Materana 2026
Practical information — Crapiata Materana
Practical information
How to get there: Matera is connected to Bari by the FAL railway line; by car, it can be reached via the SS99 from Altamura or the SS7 from Taranto. The festival takes place in the Sassi, which are accessible on foot from the city centre.
Tickets: the crapiata tasting is usually free or by donation, depending on the arrangements made by the various districts.
Where to stay: Matera offers hotels, B&Bs, and charming accommodations located within the Sassi.
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Where does it take place — Crapiata Materana
Sassi di Matera (Sasso Barisano e Sasso Caveoso)