Top Matera Historical Tours

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.

Explore Matera’s UNESCO-listed Sassi district without the hassle of navigating steep streets or trying to find key viewpoints on your own. This comfortable panoramic bus tour takes you through the city’s ancient cave dwellings and scenic overlooks, offering an easy way to take in its unique landscape. Step inside a traditional cave house and visit highlights around Piazza San Pietro Caveoso for a closer look at Matera’s history and architecture.

Unveil the secrets of the ancient “cave city” of Matera with this in-depth walking tour through the UNESCO-listed Sassi. Delve into the history of this unique city dug into the cliffside and visit a cave house and rupestrian churches in its two oldest districts. Learn about how residents once lived, marvel at the cathedral set at the town’s upper square, and take in sweeping views over the Murgia Materana Park.

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 Matera’s UNESCO-listed Sassi district without the hassle of navigating its winding streets or missing key viewpoints on your own. This guided walking tour takes you through the city’s ancient rock-carved neighborhoods, iconic churches, and scenic overlooks with a knowledgeable guide who brings the history and culture to life. With expert direction throughout, you can focus on experiencing one of Italy’s most unique historic landscapes with ease.

On this in-depth guided tour of Parco della Murgia, explore the UNESCO-listed Rupestrian churches that Matera is famous for. With a guide, walk along scenic footpaths to visit two must-see churches: the fresco-filled San Falcion and 17th-century Madonna delle Tre Porte. Admission fees to the park and a discount coupon for lunch are also included.

English Guided tour in the Sasso Caveoso, Sasso Barisano and City Center During our guided tour we are going to see the amazing old city of Matera. We are going to visit the original cave house that will show you how the poor people lived in the past in the Sassi of Matera with original furniture of that time. During the walking tour will visit the Rock Church with wonderful frescoes inside.

Discover the magic of the Sassi di Matera with an exclusive private guided tour, designed just for you and your group. No crowds, no strangers – you will have an authentic experience with an expert Guide dedicated only to you. You will walk through picturesque alleys, houses carved into the rock and breathtaking views, entering a typical Casa Grotta, furnished as it used to be, to understand the peasant life in the Sassi. You will also visit an evocative Rock Church, carved into the rock and embellished with ancient frescoes, testimony of the millennial spirituality of Matera. The tour is completely customizable in time and rhythm, ideal for couples, families or small groups who want to experience Matera in an intimate and unhurried way. Book your private tour now and be guided into the authentic heart of the Sassi : an exclusive, deep and unforgettable experience.

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.

Experience Alberobello without the stress of planning or driving on this day trip from Matera by minibus. This tour combines the insight of a licensed local guide with plenty of free time, giving you both context and freedom. During the guided walking tour, you’ll dive into the history and symbolism of the UNESCO-listed trulli, learning how these iconic stone houses were built and why Alberobello is truly unique. Your guide brings the town to life with stories, traditions, and local perspectives that go far beyond a self-guided visit. After the tour, enjoy extended free time to explore Alberobello at your own pace—wander through the lively Rione Monti, discover artisan shops, take memorable photos, or relax with lunch or an aperitivo among the trulli. Comfortable transportation, expert storytelling, and a relaxed pace make this experience ideal for travelers who want to see Alberobello properly, without rushing.

Organize with us your Private Tour in the Sassi and Murgia Materana. Aboard a comfortable 8-seater Mercedes van you can discover everything there is to see in the city. From Sasso Caveoso to Sasso Barisano, we will cross the Old Town until we reach the Belvedere with its breathtaking view! Bottles of water will be available to our Guests. We offer customers a “private tour” service that allows you to visit the length and breadth of Matera Everything is set up to allow you as much as possible to enjoy every single moment of your trip, and all in value for money! During the Tour in Van an audio guide service will be provided You can choose the following languages: Italian/English/Spanish/French/German/Portuguese/Bulgarian/ Czechoslovak/Danish/Chinese/Estonian/Polish/Russian/Hungarian Entrance to all listed sites is included during the Tour. In short, only with US you can visit EVERYTHING!

Cover more ground and explore the UNESCO-listed Sassi di Matera cave churches and dwellings in less than an hour with this Ape Calessino tour. Buzz through the steep, narrow lanes to see highlights in the Barisano and Caveoso districts plus Civita, the town's historic center. Learn about the history of this unique cliffside town from your driver and guide and pause to admire the top sights and snap photos.

Discover Matera with an exclusive private walking tour that will guide you through the magic of its Sassi. Begin your journey on the lively Via Alessandro Volta, then admire the majestic Church of Purgatory with its baroque façade. Continue towards Piazza San Francesco, the beating heart of the city, and stroll through Piazza del Sedile, where history comes to life. Visit the Cathedral, with its spectacular view over the valley, and then head to Sasso Barisano, where ancient stone houses will tell you stories from millennia past. Explore the Sassi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and immerse yourself in history by visiting a typical furnished cave house. Finally, reach Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, with its captivating atmosphere, and visit the Church of San Pietro Caveoso, a perfect example of rock-hewn architecture. A unique experience to discover the timeless beauty of Matera!

Unique panoramic tour on board the historic Piaggio Ape Calessino, it will give you an indelible memory of the splendid Matera. Customizable for your every need.

Discover the timeless charm of Matera and Alberobello on a private full-day tour from Polignano a Mare. Explore Matera’s ancient cave dwellings and rock churches, then wander through Alberobello’s iconic trulli houses. Immerse yourself in history, culture, and unforgettable landscapes—book your private experience today!

Make the most of your time in Matera and see the main tourist attractions in just a few hours with this guided tour. Stroll through the most historic districts of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, to learn about the unique evolution of this 'city of cave houses' over the millennia. Explore cave churches and dwellings, admire Baroque and Romanesque architecture, and views of the urban landscape and surrounding countryside.

Beneath Matera's main piazza lies a sealed underground city — Roman cisterns, a ninth-century church, and a tank that held five million litres of rainwater. This self-guided audio tour of the Sassi di Matera, delivered through an app, takes you past what most visitors never notice. You'll learn why families paid for better skull placement on a church door, how an assassinated count sparked a city motto about patient revenge, and why Hollywood chose these cave streets over the actual Holy Land. Your guide covers both Sasso districts, the cathedral, and cave homes where families of eleven lived alongside their animals. Start anytime, pause for photos, go at your pace — no group to follow, no fixed schedule. Works offline in the narrow streets. Over 20,000 travellers trust our self-guided tours, and every booking comes with a full refund guarantee. If you want to understand Matera rather than just photograph it, this Matera walking tour is built for exactly that.

This 3-hour walking tour is perfect for travelers looking to experience the Sassi of Matera in a deeper and more complete way, beyond the usual panoramic routes. The itinerary explores both historic districts, Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, and includes visits to two of the city’s most important rock churches. Led by a local guide, you’ll learn how Matera evolved from a “built” city into one carved directly into stone, as you pass through historic squares, scenic viewpoints, and rock-hewn spaces that reveal centuries of everyday life and spiritual tradition. The highlight of the tour is the visit to the rock churches, from Sant’Antonio Abate to the striking Madonna de Idris. Here, you’ll admire frescoes dating from the 12th to the 17th century and explore the ancient crypt of San Giovanni in Monterrone. The experience ends with a tasting of traditional Lucanian specialties. The tour runs in small groups, allowing for a more engaging pace and better interaction.

Since the 1950s the Sassi of Matera have become a great film set, there are now dozens of films shot almost all with a biblical background precisely because of its extraordinary resemblance to the Holy Land; but recently this amazing location is also suitable for action or adventure films. In fact, between August and September 2019 some scenes of the new film "No time to die" by 007 were shot, to be released in world cinemas starting from 30 September 2021. The new tour that retraces the "traces of 007 ”combining, for the visitor, both the cinematographic and the historical-architectural itinerary.

Discover the magic of the Sassi of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a guided tuk tuk tour, a comfortable, original and suggestive way to explore one of the oldest cities in the world. Accompanied by an expert Guide, you will cross the famous Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, admiring rock churches, ancient houses carved into the rock and breathtaking views of Gravina. The tuk tuk allows you to reach even the most characteristic and panoramic points, making the experience pleasant and accessible to everyone. Along the way, the Guide will tell you about the history, curiosities and traditions of Matera, from its prehistoric origins to the cultural revival that made it the European Capital of Culture. Photographic stops are planned at the most iconic points to capture unique views. An ideal experience for those who want to get to know Matera in a relaxed, authentic and fun way, without sacrificing the charm and depth of the historical story.

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.

Follow in the footsteps of the world’s most famous secret agent on this thrilling walking tour through the cinematic streets of Matera. Discover the iconic locations from No Time To Die as your guide shares behind-the-scenes stories and fascinating insights. Stroll along Via delle Beccherie, linking Via Duomo to the majestic 13th-century Romanesque Cathedral. Then, descend through narrow alleys and stairways into Sasso Barisano, where action-packed scenes came to life among ancient stone architecture. Continue along Via Madonna delle Virtù, overlooking the Gravina ravine—Bond’s high-speed chase route in the legendary Aston Martin. Then head to Via Muro, Matera’s most cinematic street, chosen by Cary Fukunaga for its striking visual power. Take in the stunning views from Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, featured in the film’s most intense moments, and finish in Piazza Pascoli, home to the iconic Hotel Balcony—Bond’s Matera hideout. More than just a tour, it’s a journey into the world of James Bond, surrounded by history, cinema, and breathtaking scenery.

We will discover together what was once defined as the "national shame". Today, Matera, with its Sassi and the Park of rock churches, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Millennia of history and almost uninterrupted human presence have made Matera today a city that has so much to show; we will try to tell it and get to know it.