Guided tour of Sassi of Matera

Are you planning to travel to Matera Italy?

2019 has been an important year for Matera. The city was declared the European Capital of Culture for 2019. Many tourists from all over the world finally discovered its special skyline and its strong identity, reflecting the profile of one of the most ancient towns in the world. A unique scenario made of ravines and canyons, hawks and buzzards, secret dwellings and winding streets. But the main attractions here in Matera are the Sassi.

Reasons why travel to Matera Italy

The Sassi di Matera walking tour stands out among the best things to do in Basilicata. Sassi are houses dug into the sweet calcareous rock. This stone is called tuff and it is made of ashes ejected from volcanoes. The first settlement in the Sassi originated from a prehistoric village dating 7000 BC. Probably those were the first human settlements in Italy. Time passed by, but still, this rock that is heavy and soft at the same time defines the landscape in Matera.

Nicknamed the Stone City, Matera has been literally dug out of the rock. Set on the slope of a rocky ravine, here the landscape is dominated by cave dwellings and early churches that hold incredible frescoes and primitive furnishings. Being inside the Sassi in the ancient town is an incredible experience.

Sassi di Matera private walking tour

The Sassi di Matera private walking tour is made for smart people. With a small price, you get a local tour guide who can make your experience completely different. It is true, mass tourism routes only recently have discovered the Basilicata region. However, Matera is not for everybody. It takes time to arrive here. Then, if you want to explore the oldest settlement, you need a guide. It is not that easy to reach the stone houses if you are not familiar with the geography of this place. That’s the main reason why this place, being highly accessible, is not for all.

After being abandoned during the fifties, the stone city has been declared UNESCO World Heritage Site during the nineties. Then, something happened. Matera rediscovered its special charm regarding film shooting. After Rossellini, Pasolini and many other famous Italian directors, Matera has started to become movie location for Hollywood blockbusters like Mel Gibson’s The Passion Of The Christ (2004), Patty Jenkins’s Wonder Woman (2017) and Cary Joji Fukunaga's 007 – No Time to Die (2020), starring Daniel Craig and Rami Malek - were also filmed here.

Booking this special tour you are going to discover an ancient and sacred landscape. Among alleys, churches and cave houses you can relax and enjoy life from different perspectives. Every corner of the old town center houses history, art, and culture. During the tour, you will have plenty of time to visit the maze of narrow streets where worship and tradition create a unique atmosphere. Here you will see also many Reinassance and Baroque buildings. 

Itinerary and inclusions:

• Vittorio Veneto square

• Scenic route through the alleys to reach Via Fiorentini

• Sant’Antonio Abate Rocky Church

• Sant’Agostino Monastery

• Via Madonna delle Virtù and Pistola Door

• San Pietro Caveoso Church

• Cave Houses with traditional furniture

• Local craft and Artesans workshops

• Pascoli square and the landscape of Sassi

• Local food tasting

Have you been wanting to visit Matera for so long? Now it’s your time to visit houses and churches carved into the rock. Most of them are covered in ancient frescoes, and that is really impressive. Another amazing thing here is the silence. It’s not a rare thing to be here, visiting a church, all by yourself. You’ll find yourself whispering quietly inside this cave-like church, finding your way to spirituality even if you are not Christian or you are atheist.

Matera will blow you away like a really cool thing unexpected. As we said at the beginning, apparently this is the third oldest continuously settled city in the world. Only Aleppo and Jericho have been inhabited for more time.