Top Matera Architecture Tours

Delve into the history and mystery of UNESCO-listed Matera, home to the Sassi cave city that traces its history back to prehistoric times. Explore one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world with a guide, stopping to visit rupestrian churches and homes and learn about the evolution of this singular cliffside town. Stroll through the Sasso Barisano and pause to snap photos of the town and surrounding valley.

The UNESCO-listed Sassi di Matera is both captivating and mysterious. With this guided tour, take a deep dive into the history of this unique rupestrian city, named a 2019 European Capital of Culture. Explore its hidden dwellings and churches carved directly into the cliff, the setting for a number of films, including Ben Hur.

Discover the historical "Sassi" neighbourhoods with a high profile guide. Our guides are all very fluent in English. Starting from the upper part of the city centre, you will get to know the most alive part of the town, where the locals live. Moving towards the Sassi area, you will have the chance to better understand how this complex city developed over the centuries. Passing first by the Sasso Barisano which we will admire from a panoramic terrace, the tour keeps going on through the internal alleys of the Sasso Caveoso with several stops to dig into the depths of Matera’s historical, architectural and cultural background. Our choice on what to include in the tour has been made, taking into careful consideration which sites are most worthy of the presence of a guide. We decided to include a rock-hewn church: Santa Lucia alle Malve. At the end of the tour the guide will share with you infos on which other places it’s worth of visiting on your own.

Private panoramic tour of the historic districts of the city, aboard the historic Ape Calessino Piaggio. You will not share the tour with other guests.

Travel back in time as you explore the ancient neighborhoods of Sassi di Matera on this private tour. Follow your guide as you visit fascinating places such as the rock churches of San Pietro Barisano and Santa Lucia alle Malve, plus ancient cave dwellings. Listen to insightful commentary from your guide as you marvel at archaic architecture and stop to take photographs.

Matera reveals itself in Palazzo Acito, a 17th century building open to curious and enterprising travellers. In its rooms you will live a unique experience: the city of the Sassi is all there, in 'La Secretissima camera de lo core', a whale's belly to cross, a labyrinth that will tell you about an unprecedented Matera. Accompanied by two exceptional guides, Luciana and Massimo, actors from the Teatro dei Sassi, you will have a sensorial and engaging journey to the places of citizens' hearts: moving 40 works by national and international artists, listening to ancient stories, legends whispered between talking objects and emotional maps up to Il Giuoco dei Sissi: a dice, 7 cuckoos as placeholders and Wonder cards and of Restlessness, keys to access the language, the mysteries, the sayings, the places of the city. But it doesn't end here because the game continues outside, in the historic center of Matera, in search of those secrets revealed by the cards. And if your answers are correct you will receive a welcome surprise.