Top Matera Walking Tours

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Skip the pre-set itinerary and script of a professional guide and enjoy an informal, behind-the-scenes Matera visit with a local host. Learn about daily life in the ancient “cave city” and create a customized route to suit your interests and passions, from landmark churches to little-known eateries. This “Lokafy” experience is aimed at connecting with a Matera native who can offer a uniquely authentic perspective on the city and its people.

Private tour of Matera. One Word: Unique! Barisano Sassi, Caveoso Sassi, Cività, rock church and cave house, a full tour to enjoy with a local tour guide. AN unique tour will take you back in time enjoying the story, the history, traditions and the fairytale of this magical place.

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!

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.

A Journey Through Time: The Archaeological Area of Venosa Explore the fascinating archaeological area of Venosa, which holds the remains of the Latin colony of Venusia. A dive into history that spans the Republican and Medieval periods, with impressive public complexes and lively residential quarters. Discover a domus rich in extraordinary mosaics and be enchanted by the ancient thermal baths. Abbey of the Holy Trinity: A Masterpiece of History and Spirituality Visit the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, beautifully restored to reveal its different construction phases. This place of worship will not only captivate you with its architecture, but also offer a profound experience of spirituality and history. Venosa Archaeological Museum: Treasures from the Past End your tour at the Venosa Archaeological Museum, housed in the picturesque Aragonese castle. An unmissable journey that will lead you to discover the history of the Latin colony and the civilizations that shaped the region.

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.

If you're looking for a fun and curious way to visit Matera, you've come to the right place! With this digital guide created with the support of a local guide, you will be able to visit all the most important monuments at your own pace. You'll get to know the stories and curiosities of Matera! But also you will discover everything about local foods, Italian Aperitivo in authentic local restaurants, and much more!

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.

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.

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.

Explore the lovely Sasso Caveoso district in the city of Matera on a 2-hour tour walking tour with a knowledgeable local guide. Visit one cave, one church and the historical center, hearing about the fascinating history and subterranean architecture of the city. See parts of the famous Sassi of Matera, ancient cave dwellings that are still in use today and have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Discover the old mountainside city of Matera on a 2-hour private walking tour. Visit the city’s key landmarks like Palazzo Lanfranchi, the church of San Pietro Caveoso, the Sasso Caveoso, and visit a typical cave house from the region. Learn about the history of this centuries-old city from your informative guide and even walk the streets where Mel Gibson filmed scenes from ‘The Passion of the Christ.’