Matera Walking Tour

Explore Matera on a shared group guided walking tour led by an Italian and English-speaking expert.

Getting started

Join your shared group guided tour of Matera at the designated meeting point and meet your expert Italian and English-speaking guide. After a brief introduction to the walking route and pace, you will set off on foot through the historic center. Since the experience takes place entirely on a walking route, wearing comfortable shoes is recommended.

What to expect

Sasso Barisano

Sasso Barisano is one of Matera’s two ancient districts, known for its mix of cave dwellings and stone houses carved into the rock. This area forms the first main part of your guided walking tour of Matera.

Features

• Your expert Italian and English-speaking guide leads the shared group walking tour format here, explaining how everyday life once unfolded in Matera’s cave dwellings and rock-carved architecture.
• Walk through narrow alleys and stairways that cut between houses and caves, then pause at panoramic terraces that open out over the Sassi and the wider UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• As you move through Sasso Barisano, your guide points out Romanesque, Baroque, and rock churches that illustrate how religious buildings were integrated into the cliffside landscape.

Sasso Caveoso

Sasso Caveoso is the second historic district you visit, characterized by its denser concentration of traditional cave homes facing the ravine. The guided tour of Matera continues here, giving you a complementary view to Sasso Barisano.

Features

• The visit to Sasso Caveoso focuses on Matera’s unique cave dwellings, with your guide describing how these rock-carved spaces evolved over time and why they contributed to the city’s UNESCO World Heritage status.
• Paths lead you along stepped lanes and terraces that overlook the Gravina canyon, where you can enjoy views that take in both districts of the Sassi within their broader rocky setting.
• Throughout Sasso Caveoso, your professional guide speaking Italian or English highlights additional rock churches and chapels, helping you compare their styles with those seen earlier in Sasso Barisano.