Matera Private Tour: Journey through the Sassi, UNESCO site

About This Experience

Italygonia Travel runs this private two-hour walking tour of the Sassi with a licensed guide, for your group only, up to 25 people. It is priced per group: $320 on a bookable date in October 2026, the same total for two people or four. Tours run in English, French, Italian and German. The rating is 4.2 from 74 GetYourGuide reviews, lower than most walks on this site.

The walk begins in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, with views over the Sasso Caveoso and the Murgia plateau across the ravine. It passes Palazzo Lanfranchi and the Church of the Carmine, then descends by stone stairways to San Pietro Caveoso, which stands above the Gravina canyon. Nearby, the route features two frescoed rock churches, Santa Lucia alle Malve and Santa Maria de Idris, carved into the limestone.

From there you continue through cave dwellings and terraces with views over the Gravina, and finish at the 13th-century Cathedral on the Civita. The guide also covers films shot in the Sassi. The listing does not say church entry tickets are included, so ask the operator which interiors your price covers. Transfers from Bari airport or port are available on request.

This tour suits families or small groups who want their own guide and a walk at their own pace. Two low-star reviewers described a late guide and general information they felt they could have read themselves. The operator's terms also say excursions are non-refundable within 48 hours of the date, so check the cancellation terms shown at booking. Expect steps and uneven stone throughout.

Highlights

• Start in Piazza Vittorio Veneto
• Palazzo Lanfranchi and the Church of the Carmine
• San Pietro Caveoso above the Gravina canyon
• Santa Lucia alle Malve and Santa Maria de Idris
• Finish at the Cathedral on the Civita
• Stories of films shot in the Sassi

What's Included

• ✓ Private walking tour with a licensed guide
• ✓ Your group only, up to 25 people
• ✓ Guide in English, French, Italian or German
• ✓ Visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Bruna and Sant'Eustachio
• ✓ Route past the rock churches of Santa Lucia alle Malve and Santa Maria de Idris

Not Included

• Transfers to or from Bari airport or port (on request)
• Church entry tickets (not listed as included)
• Food and drinks (not listed as included)

What to Bring

• Comfortable shoes with good grip
• Water from June to September
• Clothing suitable for church visits

Good to Know & Caveats

• Priced per group: $320 on a bookable date in October 2026, the same for 2 or 4 people.
• The operator's terms say excursions are non-refundable within 48 hours and no-shows get no refund; check the cancellation terms at booking.
• Expect steep steps and uneven stone in the Sassi.
• Transfers from Bari airport or port can be arranged on request.

Meeting Point

Piazza Vittorio Veneto in Matera's upper town, where the description says the walk begins; the exact spot is on your voucher.