Top Matera Art & Culture

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 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.

We will visit a beautiful UNESCO site like the Sassi of Matera: SASSI represents an extraordinary urban ecosystem able to perpetuate the most distant prehistoric ways of the past to live in caves up to modernity. Known as "the Underground City", Matera is famous for being one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. On October 17, 2014, Matera was declared the European Capital of Culture for 2019.

Unique panoramic tour on board the historic Piaggio Ape Calessino, it will give you an indelible memory of the splendid Matera. Customizable for your every need.

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.

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.

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.

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.’

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

The beautiful Italian city of Matera is known for its incredible caves, and ancient stone settlements known as “Sassi”. Get the most out of your time in this spectacular city without the worry of getting lost by going on a guided tour. Enjoy having a private guide to escort you to palaces, caves, churches, and hidden spots you might not discover alone, with fascinating commentary along the way.

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.

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.

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.

Immerse yourself in the European Capital of Culture 2019 and Unesco world heritage site! Are you ready to explore the secrets of Sassi? Admire the town in carved out rock where inhabitants lived until 20th century. Visit the cave cathedral. Why it is truly unique? You will find out why Matera is an architectural miracle. Why Matera's cemeteries are quite unusual? And did you know that the city has its own Bizarre Festival? You will see the most impressive places of the city together with a professional local guide.

Immerse yourself in the European Capital of Culture 2019 and Unesco world heritage site! Are you ready to explore the secrets of Sassi? Admire the town in carved out rock where inhabitants lived until 20th century. Visit the cave cathedral. Why it is truly unique? You will find out why Matera is an architectural miracle. Why Matera's cemeteries are quite unusual? And did you know that the city has its own Bizarre Festival? You will see the most impressive places of the city together with a professional local guide.

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.

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.