Sassi di Matera

Embark on a day out in Sassi and explore the ancient neighbourhoods with a live guide. See a series of grottoes carved out of limestone and marvel at the Sasso Barisano and the Sasso Caveoso. Your tour will begin at the meeting point in Via Alessandro Volta. From here, your expert guide will lead you to the Church of San Francesco, situated in the historic centre of the city. Next, you’ll continue along a panoramic road comprised of narrow streets and winding alleys. After arriving at the Rupestre Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, you’ll find a pleasant surprise waiting inside: a classic example of the traditional culture of this remarkable city. Afterwards, you’ll move on to visit a typical Matera cave-house before continuing along Via Madonna delle Virtù and Porta Pistoia "Pert P’stèl" to conclude your cultural adventure.

Alberobello was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996 because it is an exceptional example of building construction using prehistoric techniques that have survived intact and still function in the modern world. A "trullo" is a small limestone house, made of dry stone walls, roughly worked limestone boulders collected from nearby fields and topped with a conical roof. Souvenir shops, B&Bs, bars and restaurants will cheer up your stay in Alberobello. The blinding light that emanates from the walls of the trulli, the streets that intersect with each other, create a unique and fairy-tale atmosphere that makes it a unique location in the world. You will continue your journey to discover Matera, one of the most spectacular places in Italy. It's hard to believe that less than 70 years ago, around 15,000 people, mostly farmers, still lived in caves without natural light, ventilation, running water or electricity. Today Matera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been designated the European Capital of Culture for 2019. The ancient quarters, known as sassi, are a series of caves carved into the limestone, teetering on the edge of a ravine. You will admire a complex labyrinth of stone walkways and staircases full of local craft shops, cafes, and ice cream parlors.

Visiting the Sassi di Matera is an experience that leaves its mark in each traveler. Do it with a local, expert and authorized guide, will make your experience even richer. During the guided tour you passed by the enchanting alleys of the Sassi districts, admiring angles and slides among the most fascinating. The amazement with which you will admire this wonderful landscape, will be enriched and made even more exciting by the explanations and stories of our highly prepared local guide. Not only historical information but also, and above all, authentic and personal stories of those who have really lived the stones. During the guided tour you can personally realize how the domestic view of the peasant families who lived in the Sassi districts took place, also visiting a typically furnished cave house and a frescoed rock church.

The UNESCO tour offers two convenient meeting points to pick-up: one in Bari at Largo Eroi del Mare and another at the activity provider's office in Polignano a Mare, accommodating participants from both locations for a day of exploration and discovery. Admire the whitewashed stone trulli huts in Alberobello and some of the oldest settlements in Italy in Matera on this day drip from Polignano a Mare and Bari. Have some free time along the way to purchase a lunch in Alberobello. Meet us and hop aboard an air-conditioned bus. Take in the countryside on a scenic transfer to Alberobello. Arrive in Alberobello and go on a tour to admire the fairy-like charm of the trulli huts. Take a break for lunch or to get some shopping done before continuing on to Matera. Explore Matera's sassi districts which have distinct dwellings that have been carved from the rock and inhabited for around 10,000 years. Return to your meeting point in Polignano a Mare with incredible photos and memories at the end of your tour.

Embark on a private 3-hour walking tour through the enchanting streets of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its ancient architecture and cave dwellings. Starting in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, you’ll meet your expert guide who will introduce you to the fascinating history and hidden gems of this extraordinary city. As you stroll through Matera’s historic districts, you’ll visit iconic landmarks like the Church of San Giovanni Battista, Casa Cava, Rione Sasso Barisano, and the Rock Church of Sant'Antonio. Along the way, explore traditional cave houses, including a typical “Casa Grotta,” and enjoy the breathtaking views from the picturesque Piazza San Pietro Caveoso. The tour will take you through some of Matera’s most captivating sites, including the Church of Madonna delle Grazie, Piazza del Sedile, and Piazza San Francesco d’Assisi. You’ll conclude with a visit to the magnificent Cathedral of Matera, perched on the highest point of the city, offering stunning views of Matera and its surroundings. This immersive guided tour offers a unique opportunity to experience the charm, history, and culture of one of the world’s most ancient cities, making it an unforgettable journey into Matera’s fascinating past.

The Sassi (literally Stones) of Matera extend over two valleys and constitute a very particular urban agglomeration made up of natural caves that, over time, have been further excavated by man. Caves and ravines have been used since the Neolithic as dwellings, shelters, natural refuges and places for worship. The use of caves for housing purposes continued during the Middle Ages right up to modern times'. During the Middle Ages, small communities of lay people and monks from Armenia, Syria, Cappadocia and Asia Minor, persecuted in their lands, took refuge in these caves which became places for worship decorated with Byzantine frescoes. The area was enriched with oriental art and culture and further 'rock churches' were built. In the area of Matera there are 155 and the expression 'rock art' reaches its peak. In the period of time following the Second World War, almost twenty-thousand people still populated the Sassi. In 1952 the "Sassi Law" allocated funds for its complete restoration but it was such a hard task. Many writers have described how difficult it was to 'remove the inhabitants from the ravines they had lived in' for many generations.

Discover Matera from the comfort of an open-air bus. Learn more from your audio guide as you drive past sights such as the Piazza San Pietro Caveoso and Villa Comunale dell'Unita d'Italia. Stop to visit Cava Paradiso and Casa Grotta with entrance to the latter included. Board the tour bus near Castello Tramontano and set off on your journey. As you drive, learn about the sights, the history of Matera, and its people from the audio guide. Drive past the Museo di Palazzo Lanfranchi and marvel at its impeccable 17th-century architecture. Continue to the Villa Comunale dell'Unita d'Italia and take admire this historic park before you head to Sassi di Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As you pass the Sassi, learn about the history of these caves which have been inhabited since the Paleolithic era. Hop out of the bus at Casa Grotta Sassi di Matera. Spend 10 minutes exploring this fascinating cave house and learn the tragic history of the people who occupied it. Rejoin your driver and continue past the rock churches of Madonna delle Virtu and San Nicola dei Greci. Continue your tour with a drive past the Piazza San Pietro Caveoso and Alvino before hopping out at the Cava Paradiso for a 20-minute stop to explore this fascinating exhibition.

Starting from Piazza S. Pietro Caveoso, you will explore the Sassi, the ancient districts of the city. Discover Matera's charm, from the most beautiful and breathtaking viewpoints, to the most hidden and fascinating corners. Entering the caves of Matera, you will see how families once lived. You will learn about the ingenious system for the rainwater collection, essential for the survival of the population. Knowing all the secrets of Matera, you will learn how this city went from being the 'shame of Italy' to be a UNESCO site and a jewel of the Italian cultural heritage.

Come to the meeting point to start the tour. Board the bus and go on a short drive to Matera. Then, follow your guide around this UNESCO World Heritage Site for an immersive tour. See the famous "Sassi", which are stone houses carved into caves, and learn about the town's history. Enjoy some free time to wander around the charming streets. Buy souvenirs in some artisan shops, and savor delicious local food. After a while, get back on the bus and relax on the return journey to Bari. Get off the bus at the end to finish the activity.

On this tour you will discover two UNESCO heritage gems, steeped in the history and tradition of southern Italy. You will visit Alberobello on your own, known worldwide for its famous "trulli"-a charming place that is easy to explore even without the help of a guide as it is very intuitive with its intersecting streets. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, Alberobello represents an extraordinary example of vernacular architecture. The trulli, characteristic limestone dwellings built using the dry-stone technique, date back to ancient times and are evidence of prehistoric building techniques that have survived to the present day. Their conical roofs, often decorated with religious or esoteric symbols, and white walls create a unique, almost fairy-tale-like atmosphere. During your visit, you can stroll through the cobblestone streets and admire the perfect blend of architecture and landscape. The historic center is full of local craft stores, bars and restaurants where you can immerse yourself in Apulian culture and flavors. Alberobello is an easy place to explore even on your own thanks to its intuitive layout and the warm welcome of its inhabitants. The tour will then continue to Matera, where you will be accompanied by an Expert Guide. Matera is a unique place in the world, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and designated European Capital of Culture in 2019. Its history is very ancient, with evidence of human settlements dating back to the Paleolithic period. Matera is famous for its Sassi, ancient quarters carved into the limestone rock, where for centuries people lived in extremely harsh conditions. Until less than 70 years ago, some 15,000 peasants still inhabited these caves, without access to electricity, running water or ventilation, in a world almost unchanged by time. With the help of your Guide, you will discover the extraordinary history of this town and its transition from a symbol of rural poverty to a world heritage icon. You will walk through the alleyways of the Sassi of Matera, admiring ancient rock dwellings, churches carved into the rock with Byzantine frescoes, and an intricate network of streets, stairways, and hidden passageways. Your guide will take you through a journey through time, explaining the unique architectural features of the place and the city's rebirth in recent decades. Matera today is a vibrant center of art, culture, and gastronomy, with numerous craft stores, bars, and ice cream parlors offering an authentic experience of Lucanian life. This tour will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the history and traditions of two of the most fascinating and unique places in Italy.