Top Matera Walking Tours

Matera is home to the Sassi cave churches and dwellings that make up one of the oldest cities in the world. Join your guide for an in-depth tour of the Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano districts to learn about their unique history and evolution. Discover rupestrian structures, stroll the steep and narrow lanes, and gain a deeper understanding of how this town, once called the “Shame of Italy”, is now a UNESCO-listed treasure.

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.

Discover the historic charm of Matera on this guided walking tour, which starts from the picturesque Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Admire the panoramic views of Civita and Sasso Barisano as you walk through the ancient alleys of the old town. Visit the amazing Rock Church and a traditional cave house to immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of the region. This 2-hour tour, with a maximum of 15 participants, offers an intimate glimpse into Matera's fascinating past and beautiful landscapes, making it ideal for culture and history enthusiasts. Duration: about 2 hours Minimum 2 adults; maximum 15 participants Daily departures at 11:30 or 15:30 Visit significant sites, including the ancient cave house and rock church.

There's so much to see and do in Matera, but if you'd rather explore without following a large tour group, then this self-guided experience is ideal. Using a digital guide on your smartphone, discover the city's fascinating history through audio commentary as well as written tips. Having a route planned out ensures an easy way to check off highlights such as the Sassi di Matera and Matera Cathedral, with insider recommendations along the way.

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!

Discover the authentic charm of the Sassi di Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, with a street food tour that combines local flavors with stunning scenery. Stroll through its maze of stone-carved alleys, historic districts, and scenic overlooks as your local guide brings to life stories of cave dwellings, ancient communities, and the layered history of this extraordinary city. Admire Belvedere on Via Duomo, Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral of Matera, former Monastery of Santa Lucia and Agata alla Civita, Piazza Sant'Eligio, and Belvedere Giovanni Pascoli. Delight in a curated selection of Matera and Lucania's iconic street foods. Enjoy crispy peperoni cruschi, traditional cialledda materana, fresh handmade cavatelli, and finish with artisanal gelato in the heart of the Sassi. Along the way, your guide will reveal how food, history, and daily life remain deeply intertwined in this extraordinary city.

You will love Matera at the first sight. At first glance, Matera looks like any small Italian town, but in few steps from Baroque Churches and boutiques, you will discover a very special place called Sassi, where the people lived from the Neolithic Period until the 50th of the last century, and it is today the World Heritage Site and the stage for many films.

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.

We dive into the Park starting from the Sassi districts, across the suspension bridge that crosses the stream. Visit to the UNESCO Park of Murgia Materana with unspoilt nature, flora, fauna, art, ancient history and archaeology to discover. Rock churches (cut into the rock) with millenary frescoes, cisterns for collecting water, farms and tratturi crossed for millennia on the road between Rome and Jerusalem. Personalized tours with professional hiking environmental guide registered with AIGAE (Italian Association of Environmental Hiking Guides). Limited number of participants. It is a unique and exciting tour. You will discover nature, history and art through one of the oldest territories in the world. Bring hiking shoes, windbreaker, water and hat with visor.

Our private walking tour through the historic Sassi district of Matera lasts approximately 2 hours and is led by a local guide. Together you will explore the narrow streets and panoramic viewpoints of Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, immersing yourself in the rich history, architecture, and cultural heritage of the city.

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed rock city of Matera stretches over a steep cliff, so exploring it on foot can be tiring. Explore as much as possible without getting tired with this tour aboard an authentic Italian Ape Calessino (Tuk Tuk). Zip through the streets of the historic Sasso Caveoso neighborhood to admire the main churches and squares and snap photos of the famous cave houses and views of the surrounding valley.

Explore Matera at your own pace with a self-guided walking tour on your phone. You get a clear map of all 10 stops, simple directions through Google Maps, and short audio stories you can play when you reach each location. The route covers the historic heart and the Sassi districts, from Piazza Vittorio Veneto to the Church of San Pietro Caveoso, passing sites like the Matera Cathedral, the panoramic Piazzetta Pascoli, and the iconic Santa Maria di Idris. Start anytime, pause whenever you like, and explore freely. No groups, no schedules. Audio and text available in 7 languages.

Matera is one of the oldest cities in the world whose territory preserves evidence of human settlements starting from the Paleolithic and without interruptions up to the present day. It represents an extraordinary page written by man through the millennia of this very long history. World Heritage Site since 1993 and European Capital of Culture in 2019. With the classic and typical Ape Calessino (tuk tuk), an Italian myth, much appreciated by families, especially with children in wheelchairs, we will cross the Old Town and the Sassi, as they are very tiring on foot, especially in the summer, whizzing through the streets and characteristic alleys, making small stops for photos and videos and to visit churches in the squares and characteristic Case Grotte (Case Museo).

Visit Matera on board a bee, a comfortable and fun experience. A tour of the three districts of the Sassi of Matera and the historic center with panoramic stops and curiosities about the recent history of the city of Matera: from a national shame to a city known and appreciated worldwide. It will also be possible to visit a typical "casa cave" house The route lasts just over an hour, accompanied by a local person to discover the secrets of this millennial city. In special requests enter your preferred departure time!

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and former European Capital of Culture, Matera is full of history that isn’t always apparent to independent travelers. On this small-group walking tour, explore the city with a guide sharing insights into local history and culture. Start from Piazza Vittorio Veneto and explore much of the historic center in a few hours of walking, seeing stone houses, churches, and famous cave dwellings along the way.

A panoramic excursion in rocky habitats, flanking the Gravina di Matera and its stream which extends for 20 km, from the foot of the city of Matera, made famous for its Sassi and declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. We will follow the stream along the ridge of one side of the ravine, enjoying the landscapes of the Murgia Materana Regional Park. First by exploring the rock church of San Nicola all'Ofra, a farmhouse with its rooms dug into the cliff that communicate with each other: tunnels, stairways, cisterns, churches, developing on 3 levels of height. And then the karst Bat Cave, among the oldest evidence of human life in this area, a series of corridors, a breeding site for flying mammals, a place that hides the treasure of King Barbarossa between history and legend and where thanks research carried out in recent centuries revealed Paleolithic tools and fossils of extinct animals, such as the cave bear.

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.

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 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!

Admire the elegant and majestic Cathedral of Matera and get to see its belltower that dominates the city’s skyline. Stroll in the fairy-tale districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso where you will see a network of structures built from rock. Also, get to see the eye-catching Church of Saint Mary of Idris perching on Monterrone cliff. Finally, you will have the opportunity to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the enchanting city from a famous viewpoint known as Casa Grotta.

Serious hiking options in southern Italy are limited—many renowned trails, such as the Path of the Gods, are far from Basilicata. The Path of the Seven Stones is the region's standout: a 5.6-mile (9-kilometer) route connecting Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa with significant elevation changes and seven sculpture installations based on local witch folklore. Hike the route with a AIGAE-certified environmental guide, and skip any navigation hassle or planning headaches.

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.

Hi! I’m Mimma, an official guide for the Murgia Materana Park and an independent environmental hiking and experiential guide. My tours have a strong focus on nature but take a holistic, systemic approach—meaning they naturally integrate history, archaeology, local culture, and literature. I share with hikers how the landscape we traverse has evolved over millennia, the connection between the park and the city, and the broader importance of parks worldwide. What travelers take home isn't just a tour, but a fresh perspective on nature and the world. I invite you to join me on this tour; I love this place and want to share that passion with you, tailoring the pace and level to your preferences and making you feel like Matera is a bit like home. I look forward to seeing you!