Matera: Sassi Tour with Cave House and Rupestrian Church

Name: Matera: Sassi Tour with Cave House and Rupestrian Church
Brand: GetYourGuide
Price: 33.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.67 (7953 reviews)

4.7 (7,953 verified reviews)

A tour group gathers on a sunlit stone square below the tiered stone houses of the Sassi in Matera.

Visitors walk across a paved terrace toward a small church with a bell tower, with the rocky gorge behind.

A guide talks to a group wearing sun hats beside a stone wall, with Sassi houses behind.

A tour group stands in a furnished Matera cave house with a bed, table and cupboard under a rock ceiling.

Two visitors stand at a wooden railing on a rocky viewpoint over the Gravina gorge near Matera.

About This Experience

This is a two-hour guided walk through the Sassi run by Martulli Viaggi, and with 7,953 GetYourGuide reviews (rated 4.7) it is the most-reviewed Matera tour on this site. A licensed guide takes a group from the upper town down into both cave districts, and the price includes entry to a furnished cave house and the rock-cut church of Sant'Antonio Abate. The English option cost $33 per person on a bookable date in October 2026. Italian, German, Spanish and French tours run too.

You meet at the Martulli Viaggi tourist office on Via Alessandro Volta. The itinerary passes the Chiesa del Purgatorio and Piazza del Sedile, then drops to the Chiesa di Sant'Antonio Abate, a rupestrian (rock-cut) church where the listing promises a short encounter with a local who shares stories of everyday life. From there you walk Via Madonna delle Virtù and Via Fiorentini, spend about 20 minutes in the Sasso Caveoso and finish near Porta Pistola.

The cave house on the itinerary is the Casa Grotta Narrante, a rock-cut peasant home on Via Madonna delle Virtù. It is a different venue from the better-known Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario, so do not expect that museum. Each stop lasts 5 to 20 minutes, and the route uses the stepped, uneven lanes found all over the Sassi. The listing marks the tour unsuitable for pregnant travelers and anyone with limited mobility, and large bags are not allowed.

The tour suits first-time visitors who want the two ticketed interiors handled in one booking at a low price. Groups can be large, and a few reviewers found the guide hard to hear while walking or had trouble following the guide's English. Others felt the opening stretch spent too long on churches before reaching the cave districts. If history detail matters most to you, read up beforehand or compare the smaller-group walks on this site.

Highlights

Chiesa del Purgatorio and Piazza del Sedile in the upper town
Via Madonna delle Virtù and Via Fiorentini along the edge of the Sassi
About 20 minutes in the Sasso Caveoso
Finish near Porta Pistola
Tours in English, Italian, German, Spanish or French
Private option available

What's Included

✓ Licensed guide for the full two hours
✓ Entry ticket to a cave house museum (the itinerary names the Casa Grotta Narrante)
✓ Entry ticket to the rock church of Sant'Antonio Abate
✓ A short stop with a local who shares stories of life in the Sassi
✓ 10% discount coupon at MòVado Food & Drink in Piazza Duomo, collected at the agency

Not Included

Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Tips (optional)

What to Bring

Comfortable shoes with good grip for stone steps
Water, especially from June to September
A small bag only (luggage and large bags are not allowed)

Good to Know & Caveats

The Sassi lanes are steep, stepped and uneven; expect constant ups and downs.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Some options start from a second meeting point; check your voucher.
Groups can be large, so stand near the guide at each stop.

Not Suitable For

Pregnant women
People with mobility impairments

Meeting Point

The Martulli Viaggi tourist office on Via Alessandro Volta, in Matera's upper town; your voucher confirms the time and any alternative start.

What Travelers Say

Rated 4.7/5 by 7,953 verified GetYourGuide travelers.

Our tour of Matera Sassi with Angela was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
— , 2026-10

Very informative and interesting. She was young and a quick walker. So.e kept up and some lagged. She walked ( fast ) - we followed, but I didn't really see her engaging much otherwise. Interesting / informative walk, though.
— , 2026-10

I thoroughly enjoyed our tour and our guide. I think his name was Giuseppe. His English was excellent. I was also impressed with how the tour was laid out. I am sixty-six years old and we walked up and down stairs for two hours and because of the way the tour was arranged, I felt it was a very manageable trip.
— , 2026-10

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does this Sassi tour cost?

The English group option cost $33 per person on a bookable date in October 2026. That includes the guide and entry to a cave house and the rock church of Sant'Antonio Abate. Prices vary by date, so check the live price before you book.

Which cave house does the tour visit?

The itinerary names the Casa Grotta Narrante, a rock-cut peasant house on Via Madonna delle Virtù. It is not the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario, which is a separate museum with its own ticket. Entry to the cave house on this tour is included.

Is the tour hard on the legs?

It covers two hours of stepped, uneven stone lanes with climbs and descents. The operator lists it as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments and for pregnant women. Wear shoes with grip and carry water in summer.

What languages are available?

Tours run in English, Italian, German, Spanish and French. Pick the language when you choose your option and start time. A private option is also available.

Can I cancel if the weather turns?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start. Inside that window the booking is not refundable, so check the forecast the day before.