Matera: Panoramic Tuk-Tuk Tour

About This Experience

This is a short private ride through the Sassi in a three-wheeled Ape Calessino (the tuk-tuk) for your own group of up to five people. It lasts about 45 minutes, costs $39 per person, and starts at the Martulli Viaggi office in Via Alessandro Volta, in Matera's upper town. The driver speaks Italian, and the commentary comes from an audio guide in English, French, Spanish or Italian that you play through the POPGuide app on your own phone.

The route starts near the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi in Piazza San Francesco, follows Via del Corso and Piazza del Sedile, then climbs to Piazza Duomo on the Civita, beside the Romanesque Cathedral. From there you drop toward Sasso Barisano, stopping near the Sant'Agostino church for the view, and follow Via Madonna delle Virtù to Porta Pistola above the Gravina ravine. The ride finishes in Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, and your ticket includes entry to the Casa Grotta Narrante, a furnished cave house.

The tour suits families with children, first-time visitors who want a quick overview, and anyone who cannot manage the stairs of a walking tour. The listing marks it as not suitable for wheelchair users, so you still need to climb in and out of the vehicle and walk short stretches at the stops. Children and older travelers who tire on the steps still get the main viewpoints of both Sassi in under an hour.

The rating is 4.2 from 400 GetYourGuide reviews, lower than most Matera tours compared here. Several reviewers expected a guide and got a driver with little English, so the audio track carries all the explanation. Others reported late starts and a ride shorter than 45 minutes. Book it as a convenient ride with recorded commentary, and bring headphones and a charged phone.

Highlights

• Private Ape Calessino (tuk-tuk) for your group, up to 5 people
• Piazza San Francesco, Via del Corso and Piazza del Sedile
• Piazza Duomo on the Civita, beside the Romanesque Cathedral
• Viewpoint near Sant'Agostino over Sasso Barisano
• Via Madonna delle Virtù to Porta Pistola above the Gravina ravine
• Finish in Piazza San Pietro Caveoso

What's Included

• ✓ Private Ape Calessino (tuk-tuk) with driver
• ✓ Audio guide in English, French, Spanish or Italian through the POPGuide app on your phone
• ✓ Entry ticket to the Casa Grotta Narrante cave house
• ✓ Photo stops at viewpoints in the Sassi
• ✓ 10% discount coupon at MòVado Food & Drink bar in Piazza Duomo (collect it at the agency)

Not Included

• Food and drinks
• Gratuities

What to Bring

• Charged smartphone with the POPGuide app downloaded
• Headphones or earbuds
• Comfortable shoes with grip for the short walks at the stops
• Sun protection in summer

Good to Know & Caveats

• The driver speaks Italian; the English commentary is a recorded audio guide on your own phone.
• Private for your group of up to 5 people, priced per person.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
• Not suitable for wheelchair users; the stops involve short walks on uneven stone.
• Arrive at the office a little early; some reviewers reported late starts.

Meeting Point

The Martulli Viaggi office in Via Alessandro Volta, in Matera's upper town; your voucher confirms the time.