Church of Purgatory – external visit
The route begins with Baroque Matera, where symbols and façades reveal the deep connection between faith, death, and rebirth that has shaped the city’s spiritual identity.
Piazza San Francesco d’Assisi
An elegant threshold between the “built” city and the “carved” one: here you can read Matera’s urban evolution before entering the world of the Sassi.
Matera Cathedral – external visit
From the top of the hill, your gaze embraces the entire rock-hewn landscape. This is the ideal moment to orient yourself and understand the city’s unique layout from above.
Rock Church of Sant’Antonio Abate – internal visit
Entering Sasso Barisano marks the transition into underground Matera. Frescoes and rock-carved spaces tell the story of medieval spirituality and religious life.
Narrated Cave House – internal visit
An immersive experience into everyday life of the past: rooms furnished as they were before the 1950s and stories that reveal the real living conditions of Sassi families.
Via Madonna delle Virtù – panoramic walk
A walk suspended between city and nature, with spectacular views over the Gravina canyon and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches, where landscape becomes an integral part of history.
Piazza San Pietro Caveoso
In the heart of Sasso Caveoso, a pause among light, silence, and rock architecture, surrounded by one of Matera’s most iconic views.
Rock Church of Madonna de Idris – internal visit
The most intense moment of the tour: a rock-carved church “suspended” above Sasso Caveoso, adorned with frescoes that tell centuries of faith and art.
Local food sampling – Grotta della Petrarola
Wrap up the tour with the flavors of the region: enjoy a light tasting of regional bites such as taralli, Matera bread, and veggie spreads.
- Complete itinerary through the UNESCO-listed Sassi of Matera
- Choose between a private tour or a small-group experience with a local guide
- Entrance to two frescoed rock churches, including Madonna de Idris
- Internal visit to a traditionally furnished cave dwelling (casa grotta museum)
- Light tasting of regional food products
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| Duration | 3 Hours |
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| Important information | The itinerary may be subject to changes. For more information or additional questions, please feel free to contact the phone number below. Our team will be happy to provide you with all the information you need to ensure a memorable experience during the tour of Matera. Contact Number: +39 0835334543 / +39 3284364400 We will be available to assist you with any necessary request or clarification, ensuring that your tour is organized flawlessly and smoothly. ATTENTION: |
Further information
Complete Matera Walking Tour: Historic Center and Sassi Districts
Begin this immersive private Matera walking tour in the historic center and follow your local guide toward the ancient Sassi, experiencing the gradual transition from the built city to the one carved directly into the rock.
Historic squares and panoramic viewpoints
Walk across elegant historic squares and reach panoramic viewpoints that reveal Matera from above. One of the most striking views is near the Cathedral, where you can fully appreciate the layout of the Sassi and the dramatic relationship between architecture, landscape, and the Gravina canyon.
Matera Sassi guided tour with Santa Maria de Idris included
During this Matera Sassi guided tour, explore frescoed rock churches that reflect medieval spirituality and religious life carved into stone, starting with the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate. A highlight of the experience is the visit to the iconic rock church of Santa Maria de Idris, dramatically suspended above Sasso Caveoso and considered one of Matera’s most powerful symbols.
Cave house, local flavors, and tour options
Step inside a traditionally furnished cave house to discover how families once lived in the Sassi, then finish the tour by sampling a selection of local Lucanian specialties. In addition to the private option, this tour is also available as a shared group experience.
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Sadly, the family emergency ultimately resulted in a death in our family.
Given these circumstances, particularly the fact that we contacted you in advance and received no response, we are requesting a full refund for the excursion. We made every reasonable effort to notify your company and cancel the reservation, and we do not feel we should be financially responsible when our cancellation request went unanswered.
Please review this matter and issue a full refund. We would appreciate a prompt response confirming that the refund has been processed.
We paid €100 for 2 people for a 3-hour Sassi tour with tasting, specifically to see Santa Maria de Idris. Two minutes before departure, we were told our tour wasn't happening and were pushed into a 2-hour tour instead (advertised at just €29), with no tasting and a group of 29 people instead of the promised max 20. We were given €10 cash and the choice of "full refund" but had no real choice — it was join this group or miss out entirely, since we had a fixed return time to Bari. No warning until 2 minutes before start, no real alternative offered, and a significant downgrade in value with no advance notice. Be very careful if you're booking a specific tour time or itinerary with this company — you may not get what you paid for. I kindly asked for refund of the outstanding difference after the tour from Michele, he did not even bother to reply.
After only 2 hours we were back at the MV office. We didn’t see some sites we were looking forward to and never had the tasting. We asked our guide about it and he had no idea what we were talking about. We went into the office and explained what we booked vs what we got. They said we could pay for a second tour to get what we missed. Why would we spend more to cover their mistake?
After some more back and forth and a few phone calls on their end, they did give us a partial refund. We booked the tour a week in advance and got two confirmation emails so we’re not sure why there was a problem. The guide was nice and the tour was decent, but the office seemed very disorganized. We would not use them again.
