Top Activities on the Ground in Matera

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.

Experience the top attractions of Matera—named the European “capital of culture” in 2019—on this guided excursion. After meeting up with a knowledgeable local guide, explore sites like the Cathedral of Matera, the Church of San Giovanni Battista, and Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Learn about the city’s history and culture, and enjoy scenic views of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Cavoso.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

We’ll meet at Tramontano Castle, where I’ll explain the rules of the game and give you a map with riddles linked to the places you’ll need to discover. You’ll have 2 hours to solve them, using both your brain and your legs — but the reward will be worth it! Along the way, you’ll explore hidden corners and discover what I consider to be the true gems of the city. I’ll stay at the starting point to assist you or give you hints, if needed. At the end of the adventure, you’ll return to me to decipher the key and unlock the treasure chest together, while I share stories and fun facts about the places you’ve visited. Everyone will receive a certificate, but only the winner will take home the treasure! It’s the perfect activity to explore Matera in an original way, to give someone a special gift, or simply to enjoy a fun and unique experience! On request, small gifts or notes provided by you can be placed in the chest to make the experience even more personal.

Touring the cliffside Sassi di Matera on foot can be tiring. With this tuk-tuk tour, you’ll zip up the steep streets of the old town to take in the top sights in just hours. Delve into the Barisano and Caveoso districts to admire ancient cave dwellings and rupestrian churches and learn about their history via an audio guide. Navigate the warren of narrow lanes with a group leader to avoid getting lost.

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.

Discover Sassi di Matera through a unique e-bike experience inspired by the principles of slow tourism. This guided tour lets you explore Matera at a relaxed pace, connecting with its landscapes, history, and local culture while minimizing your environmental impact. Ride effortlessly through ancient stone alleys, scenic terraces, and lesser-known paths, reaching quieter areas beyond the main tourist routes. Continue towards the Palomba rupestrian area, where rural scenery and rupestrian landscapes reveal a different and more authentic side of the territory. Along the way, stop at a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Sassi and the surrounding landscape, offering breathtaking views and perfect photo opportunities. An eco-friendly and immersive way to discover Matera, combining nature, heritage, and active exploration.

The experience of our team will lead you towards the discovery of the true and authentic soul made in the south, made up of food and wine excellence, typical crafts and sites of historical and cultural interest. Our company is a true airline, the only Italian company in southern Italy authorized to perform commercial flights with passengers, as it has a license issued by ENAC, the National Civil Aviation Authority and specific aeronautical insurance.

Start your journey from Matera in a comfortable, air-conditioned minivan for an unforgettable visit to the Crypt of the Original Sin, just 10 km away. With your entry ticket included and an audio guide to lead the way, immerse yourself in the history of this remarkable cave, decorated with 8th-century frescoes. Discover unique biblical scenes, including the iconic depiction of Adam and Eve, which gives the crypt its name. Be amazed by the beauty and mystery of this ancient rock art site. After the tour, relax at a charming local farmhouse, "La Masseria Dragone", where you'll enjoy a tasting of traditional Lucanian products paired with a glass of wine from the surrounding area. End the day with a return trip to Matera, bringing with you unforgettable memories of history and the authentic flavors of Basilicata.

We will start with a small breakfast under the patriarch olive tree, in an old countryside. Later we will go through the caverns of an ancient farmhouse. Under the centuries-old olive trees we will taste Matera bread and prepare a traditional dish from Matera, "la cialledda", which tells of the encounter between the typical bread of Matera, now stale, and the vegetables and mixed salads of the Lucanian land. All this will take place in a laboratory, at the end of which we will share this meal as even today the olive pickers do in their breaks. The cialledda will be accompanied by Primitivo wine and from the bundle containing Lucanian Slow Food Presidium products: Caciocavallo Podolico, Baked olives from Ferrandina and Pezzente salami from the Matera mountains. We will also be cheered by the sounds of popular instruments and the songs of the Matera tradition.

Discover the hidden gem of Basilicata on a scenic bike tour through the stunning Calanchi of Montalbano Jonico. This immersive experience leads you along ancient mule tracks and quiet country roads, where dramatic clay ridges and breathtaking panoramas await. With electric bike assistance, even beginners can enjoy the 8 km route at a relaxed pace, soaking in the rich history and natural beauty of the region. Your certified guide will share fascinating insights as you pedal effortlessly through this tranquil landscape, making it an ideal choice for those seeking authenticity and sustainability in their travels.

Discovering Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, becomes a unique experience with this tour we will explore where Matera was born. We will start with the breathtaking view of the belvedere of Matera and its prehistoric caverns dating back to the Lower Neolithic. Continue to the frescoed Sanctuary of Palomba, unique with the beautiful Byzantine fresco of Madonna Odigitria, the Madonna del Cammino famous for her pilgrimages in request of help from the farmers of Basilicata and nearby Puglia. And finally 1 hour visit of the beautiful Crypt of Original Sin. It stands right where the caves of prehistoric times are, the beautiful Sistine Chapel of Southern Italy dating back to the Lombard period, the oldest. It is embellished with a cycle of frescoes dated between the eighth and ninth centuries, drawn up by the artist known as the Painter of Flowers of Matera and expressing the historical characteristics of Benedictine-Beneventan art.

Meet every day in Jazzo Gattini for a 2-hour exploration of the UNESCO Park of Murgia Materana. Discover its thousand-year-old Neolithic archaeological wonders, and then visit frescoed medieval rock churches overlooking the Gravina canyon and the Sassi di Matera, ancient cisterns, dry stone walls; a full immersion that travels through millennia of human history, from the dawn of time to the present day. This area boasts not only a wealth of history and archaeological wonders, but also an uncontaminated Mediterranean flora and fauna, immersed in a land that never ceases to amaze and amaze those who want to discover it. With us you can also let children participate with games and curiosities about fossils, flora and fauna.