Tours/Matera/Matera : Sassi tour with the iconic churches carved into the rock
Viator · group up to 20 pax

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

4.8(529)Matera1 hour
VIATOR4.6(87)TRIPADVISOR4.9(442)

Description

With an authorized guide you will visit the beauties of the historic center of Matera reaching, with a pleasant walk, places and breathtaking views.

Tour Options

Tour in english
  • Entrances Museums: House Cave of rural civilization Rock Church of Santa Maria de Idris San Giovanni al Monterrone
Tour in French Language
  • Museum entrances: House cave of peasant civilization Rock Church of Santa Maria de idris San Giovanni al Monterrone
German language tour
  • Tours in German Museum entrances: Entrance to the Rock Church of Santa Maria de Idris and San giovanni al Monterrone Entrance House cave museum of civilization
Tour in Spanish
  • Museum entrances: Neighborhood cave house Rock Church Santa Maria de Idris San Giovanni al Monterrone
Guided Tour in Italian
  • Entrances Museums: House Cave of rural civilization Rock Church of Santa Maria de Idris San Giovanni al Monterrone

Itinerary

Pass by

Meeting point Central Office in Via Don Minzoni, 13

Pass by

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.

10 min

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

Admission included20 min

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

Pass by

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.

Admission included15 min

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.

Highlights

Entrance House cave
Entrance Church of Santa Maria De Idris San Giovanni in Monterrone

What's included

Included
Entrance House cave
Entrance Church of Santa Maria De Idris San Giovanni in Monterrone
Not included
Bottled water
Snacks

Traveller Ratings

4.8
529 reviews
5
474
4
35
3
7
2
7
1
6

Important Information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Reviews(529)

R
Rosaura_C
August 12, 2026
We did our tour...

We did our tour in Spanish with the guide Andrea. Despite the heat, she showed us the most important parts of Matera in a very pleasant way. She had quite a bit of knowledge about the history of the city and answered all our questions. We visited the two Sassi with a couple of rock churches as well as a house where it was shown how hard life was in the time when those cave-houses were inhabited.

P
Pietro_G
August 11, 2026
Fantastic experience

Fantastic experience, we did the complete tour of Matera, highly recommended. The guide is very competent

C
Christian_L
August 8, 2026
Do not visit before the...

Do not visit before the guided tour of the lower town. Otherwise, the circuit is repeated, visit too fast

R
Robyn_N
August 7, 2026
Excellent!!

Our tour was amazing!! Patrizia was so knowledgeable and had us hooked from the beginning to the end! We stopped plenty of times for photos and learned about the deep roots of Matera and the cave dwellings!

S
stefanodN4795WX
August 6, 2026
Matera..An Italian wonder

Beautiful experience, wonderful city, made even better by the guide (Simone) who accompanied us, described, told us about it in detail, and answered our questions. For Throughout the journey, he also showed interest in the tourist's safety. Stefano from Lucca

L
Lynn M
August 5, 2026
Excellent service. Well organised

Excellent experience with the lovely Lorenzo. Her English and knowledge is Excellent. She made is feel like we were her only clients ever. She encourages you to ask as many questions as you like. I cant imagine going to Mateta and not doing a guided tour.

S
supermike63
August 1, 2026
Serious and safe tour operator

I arrived from Valpolicella, land of wine and stone, with the awareness of what I was going to visit, but the professionalism of Simone, excellent in describing and telling the history of this magnificent Italian gem named Matera, made us fall in love with this corner of culture, history, and unique architecture. Thank you Simone, thank you Matera.

M
mariaaL2874RN
July 30, 2026
Very nice guided tour with Lorenza🍀

We had very nice tour guided by Lorenza, we are very pleased. I heard lots of new interesting information and details. It was pleasure!

B
barbarazR6113WP
July 24, 2026
Excellent guided tour.

We participated in a guided tour in the afternoon. Compliments to Simone, our guide, who was very knowledgeable and entertained us pleasantly and helpfully by telling us the history of Matera.

M
Marta_S
July 23, 2026
Excellent experience for...

Excellent experience to get to know and understand the Sassi of Matera. The guide explained everything in detail and the two-hour walk was pleasant and interesting.

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