Matera : Sassi tour with the iconic churches carved into the rock

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Meeting point Central Office in Via Don Minzoni, 13

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2. Start your journey in the heart of Matera from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, one of the main squares of the city, meeting point of social and cultural life. From here, the walk through the old town allows you to admire historic buildings, churches and picturesque views that tell centuries of history. Each alley and square houses stories of everyday life, art and tradition, while the architecture and facades of the buildings show the evolution of the city over time. The local Guide will accompany you through alleys, squares and monuments, revealing curiosities, anecdotes and details that often escape those who visit the city unaccompanied. Walking through the portals, squares and cobbled streets, you can immerse yourself in the magic of the historic center of Matera, understanding the balance between daily life and artistic heritage. This experience allows you to experience the city with new eyes, discovering the authentic and timeless charm of Matera.

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3. Experience Matera from a unique perspective with a guided tour of the Sasso Barisano viewpoint. From this elevated position you can admire the entire neighborhood with its fascinating interweaving of cave houses, cave churches and picturesque alleys. The Guide will tell you about the history, architecture and daily life of the people who inhabited this extraordinary context, revealing curiosities and details often hidden from visitors. Observing the Sasso Barisano from above allows you to understand its structure and charm without having to walk the narrow alleys, optimizing the time of the walk. The panoramic view offers perfect scenery for memorable photographs and prepares the way for a more in-depth visit of the caveous rock

   10 min

4. There will be a visit inside one of the most beautiful rock churches, the Church of Santa Maria di Idris.

   20 minAdmission included

5. Discover the authentic heart of Matera with a guided tour of the Sasso Caveoso, the most iconic part of the Sassi. Walking through the neighborhoods, ancient neighborhoods where families shared courtyards and common areas, the Guide will tell stories and curiosities that will immerse you in the daily life of the past. You will visit the underground oil mills, testimonies of peasant ingenuity and oil production, and the barbarian cemetery, a rare archaeological site that preserves memories and ancient tales. Every alley, courtyard and corner tells centuries of history, work and devotion, offering an authentic and engaging experience. Between panoramic views and hidden details, you can experience the true essence of the Sassi, understand the culture of Matera and bring with you unique memories of a place without equal.

   Passes by

6. Visit the typical Casa Grotta di Matera and immerse yourself in the daily life of its inhabitants until the 1950s. This fascinating cave environment, furnished with original objects and traditional tools, tells how families lived in the narrow caves carved into the rock. Walking through rooms, kitchens and inner courtyards, you will discover the secrets of domestic life, survival strategies and habits that have characterized centuries of Matera history. The Guide will reveal stories, anecdotes and curiosities that make each corner unique and suggestive, allowing you to fully understand the culture and traditions of the Sassi. The visit to the Casa Grotta offers an authentic, emotionally engaging experience, and a unique opportunity to relive the city’s past firsthand, among genuine environments, original details and an atmosphere that still retains the charm of a time long gone.

   15 minAdmission included

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 564 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Matera

• Its from-price is 75% below the median of the 186 experiences we list in Matera.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 3 of 186.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Matera

Matera is a southern Italian city of ancient cave dwellings carved into a ravine, a UNESCO-listed maze of stone houses, rock churches and stepped lanes.

Matera, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, is built above a deep ravine, and its old districts, the Sassi, are cave houses and stone buildings stacked down the cliff. People have lived here since prehistory, and until the 1950s many families still occupied the caves, before they were moved to new housing. The Sassi were listed by UNESCO in 1993, and the cathedral crowns the rock between the two districts, Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso.

Top-ranked sights in Matera: Sassi di Matera, Murgia National Park (Parco della Murgia Materana), Madonna delle Virtù Church (Chiesa di Madonna delle Virtù).

See all 186 experiences in Matera