Top Matera Cultural Tours

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, this tour will be carried out with radio transmitter and receiver for each participant, in order to comply with the contact rules. An immersive experience to discover all that makes Matera unique by discovering motherhood and trying to enter, even in the philosophy of life of this strange and unique city. Together with me, Renato, or one of my collaborators such as Sara, Gaetano and Domenico, all licensed guides with a visceral passion and love for the city. The city of Matera, with its ancient neighborhoods, the Sassi, is considered among the oldest in the world. An authentic open-air museum that describes man's life from the Stone Age to the present day with spectacular continuity. Not really touristic tour, step by step you will discover the history of the city, the tales and the vicissitudes of those who lived in the Sassi as well as art, architecture. a 360 ° analysis of Matera "Shame of Italy" and "World Heritage Site".

The tour guide outside the Cathedral and walking tour, through culture, history, tales and legends, where in the bronze age, according the findings, a built up area was born to shape the first city.Secondly we will go to "Sasso Barisano" where we will find how life was spent in the past through old trades, customs, proofs and habits. Then we will cross the old town, coasting the "Civita", enjoying the view of the Park of Materana Murgia on the front side, so that we will head towards the rupestrian complex where you can see rupestrian churches and cave dwellings.

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. Cap off the tour with a tasting of local specialties from Matera.

Covid measures: Each participant will have a receiving radio guide (with disposable earphone) that will allow them to hear the guide well, while maintaining the safety distance from it The modern city of Matera develops on a plateau while the two Sassi districts are vertically built inside a canyon, on the side of a gorge. On the other side there is the Murgia park with its caves, where you can take panoramic walks. The urban area of the Sassi has undergone so many transformation and stratification processes that its architecture is in fact fascinating. Along the tour there are many stops for historical, architectural and social study, observing those aspects that have determined, over the centuries, the changing socio-economic conditions of the territory with the progressive, slow and inexorable degradation and abandonment of the Sassi, until to be able to appreciate the limelight and the enhancement that the Sassi are experiencing today

Discover the city of Matera in a journey through the city of the Piano with its Baroque churches, the Rione Civita where the cathedral in Apulian Romanesque style, and the two famous Sassi, Barisano and Caveoso districts, defined for their beauty and history a true cultural landscape.

On this in-depth guided tour of Parca della Murgia, you’ll get an insider’s introduction to the stunning, underground Rupestrian churches that Matera is famous for. Get a peek at 150 rock churches, including fresco-filled San Falcion and 17th-century Madonna delle Tre Porte. Tours include admission fees to the park and a guided excursion.

The Sassi di Matera are one of the most fascinating sights in southern Italy, but these ancient cave dwellings can be difficult to interpret on your own. With this guided tour, see the most interesting cave homes and rupestrian churches in the cliffside town in just hours and enjoy insights into their history and significance from your guide. Stroll through the most picturesque squares in the historic center to snap photos.

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.

Private tour with a multilingual tour guide that will lead just you discovering the city and its history.

Located in a cave deep in the Mugia plateau outside Matera, this captivating rupestrian church known as the “Sistine Chapel of the south” is not easy to reach by car or bus. With this tour, explore one of the most important cultural sites in Basilicata with a convenient transfer and admire its ancient frescoes with the insight of a guide.

You will visit Matera with a local tour guide that knows the city and will lead you to discover it as only an inhabitant can do.

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.’

With our walking tours, you’ll skip the mundane historical tours and discover the city through a local’s eyes. Experience a tour that will transform the way you travel to make it as much about the people you meet, as it is the places you see. Our local guides (Lokafyers) are passionate about their city and eager to share their knowledge and perspective. Since Lokafyers are not professional guides and tour occasionally, they provide an experience that’s authentic and personal, like a friend showing you around their city. By the end of the tour, you'll feel comfortable navigating the city and confident that you have all the information you need to make the most of your stay.

Castelmezzano, surrounded by a rocky landscape, has preserved the original medieval urban layout with houses built on the rock according to the ancient form of terracing, with the roofs in stone slabs. The walking tour will take you to the discovery of the historical center. It will be discovered how Castelmezzano at the time of the Crusades was an important stop for the knights who went to the Holy Land. Here you will also visit the Mother Church of Santa Maria (called dell'Olmo) made of local stone with inside a wooden statue of the Madonna with Child and a wooden baroque altar. The tour will continue in the village among the palaces built by noble families such as the great ducal palace of De Lerma, the last lords of Castelmezzano. The tour will end with a visit to the ruins of the Norman-Swabian castle and the narrow and very steep Norman staircase, the staircase was dug into the rock to lead the soldiers to a high place to watch over the fortress

This is a tailor-made tour. People can decide to stop wherever they like. They will have time to explore the Old Town and its history and enjoy wonderful landscape.

Miglionico is located on a hill near Matera between the Bradano and Basento rivers and is famous for the majestic Malconsiglio castle, known for the historic conspiracy of the Barons (1485) against King Ferdinando I of Naples. Flanked by square and circular circular towers, placed at the top of the building. On the upper floor, there are the Malconsiglio hall, where the conspiracy was held, and the Star or Spirits room with a star-shaped ceiling and caskets where the most precious treasures and documents were kept. After the visit of the castle the tour continues towards the mother church of Santa Maria Maggiore which preserves precious works such as the splendid Polyptych (1499) oil on panel of the Venetian master Cima da Conegliano, composed of eighteen panels arranged in four orders, with a central beautiful Virgin on the Throne with Child and St. John the Baptist, the Crucifix by Father Umile Da Petralia Soprana (1629) and the great baroque organ.

Thanks to this tour, in one day, it will be possible to visit Bari and Matera, that is some of the most beautiful places in the area.

Join this fascinating 2-hour private tour of the Matera Sassi. Meet your expert guide in Piazzetta Pascoli, a viewpoint with a breathtaking panorama over the stones of Matera. Make your way down narrow stairways into the heart of Sasso Caveoso, one of the two Civita' districts, towards the baroque style church, San Pietro Caveoso. Venture inside a rupestrian church (carved into the rock), visit Santa Maria di Idris, set into a large, limestone rock and the ancient monastery, Santa Lucia alle Malve that has remarkable 1000 year old frescoes. Head up a stairway to see a cave house and get an understanding how people once lived. In the Sasso Barisano district you can admire the churches of Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Clare and the stunning Romanesque Cathedral. Marvel at this UNESCO World Heritage site and chosen location for numerous Hollywood movies. Together with your guide you'll discover the magic, history, architecture and stories of the exquisite Matera.

A journey through nature, history and flavours, to discover the wonders of the city of Matera and the unspoilt nature of the Murgia Materana park.

An exclusive tour for all the romantics of the world! Together with the professional local guide, you will visit the most romantic places in the city. Why have Sassi been described by Fodor's as "one of the most unique landscapes in Europe? You will feel spellbound in a charming atmosphere. What is considered as one of the best places to have a date in the city? Where can you make lovely photos? You will be surprised how many historical love stories are hidden in the streets, buildings, parks of the city. From heartbreaking and tragic, to the hilarious or spicy ones. What movies were filmed here? What’s so unique about local culture and history in this area? This tour is especially recommended in the Saint Valentine period!

Private walking tour guided by a licensed tour guide that will lead you to discover Matera in the evening with the lighting that make the city as a living nativity.

The exclusive tour only in the Christmas period! This special time brings magic in Matera. Together with the professional local guide, you will visit the most beautifully decorated places in Matera. You will feel spellbound with the charming atmosphere, which you can feel only this time of the year! What is the story of the Christmas tree? Who was the first to decorate it in the world? What magical things can happen during the Christmas period? Have you heard about Christmas spells? You will hear miraculous Christmas legends about Matera. You will visit unique and full of Christmas spirit flea markets. What makes it so popular? What local products must taste at Christmas? Fill your heart with the joy and experience magic of Matera.

Explore Matera in the afternoon with a private tour including both the city’s landmarks and tasting of its food and wines. Visit different restaurants and food shops for tastings of authentic local food specialties and wines, and view important highlights such as the Church of Purgatorio, the Sasso Barisano and the typically furnished house-grotto. Your tour includes food and wine tastings, a 2-course dinner, and snacks. Get great views of the city at night Hear insightful commentary from the guide See more with a private guide who customizes the tour to your interests

This tour is ideal for those staying in Matera and also wants to explore its surroundings. Includes the visit of the Sassi and a guided excursion in minivan to Altamura and Gravina di Puglia with departure and return from Matera.