Matera's Sassi Walking Tour - Premium Guide

About This Experience

Seekers runs this English-only guided walk of the Sassi for groups of up to 16, with a certified guide and entry to the rock church of Santa Lucia alle Malve. It takes about two hours, cost $34 per person on a bookable date in October 2026, and rates 4.8 from 430 GetYourGuide reviews. The operator says it picks guides for fluent English, and groups over ten get a radio guide.

You meet in the upper part of the city center at the spot on your voucher. The walk starts in the lived-in streets of the upper town, then moves down to a panoramic terrace over the Sasso Barisano. From there it follows the inner alleys of the Sasso Caveoso, with several stops on how the city's history, buildings and customs developed.

The one interior is Santa Lucia alle Malve, which Oltre l'Arte, the cooperative that runs it, describes as the first female Benedictine monastic settlement, dating to the 8th century, with frescoes. No cave house is included. At the end the guide suggests sites to visit on your own, such as a cave dwelling or the water cisterns, and you get a city map to find them.

Pick this one if clear English and a smaller group matter more to you than a long list of entries. A few reviewers felt the pace was slow, with more standing and listening than walking, and one left halfway to see more on their own. High heels are not allowed, and the listing marks the tour unsuitable for wheelchair users. The Sasso Caveoso is steep, stepped stone.

Highlights

• Upper-town streets where Matera's residents live
• Panoramic terrace over the Sasso Barisano
• Inner alleys of the Sasso Caveoso
• Frescoed interior of Santa Lucia alle Malve
• How the city developed over the centuries
• Tips on what to see on your own afterward

What's Included

• ✓ Certified local guide
• ✓ Entry ticket to the rock church of Santa Lucia alle Malve
• ✓ Radio guide when the group is larger than 10
• ✓ Map of the city
• ✓ Groups capped at 16 people
• ✓ Guide selected for fluent English

Not Included

• Cave house entry (not included; the guide suggests one to visit afterward)
• Cisterns and other sites recommended for visiting on your own
• Food and drinks (not listed as included)

What to Bring

• Flat, comfortable shoes with grip (high heels are not allowed)
• Water in warm months
• Clothing suitable for a church visit (covered shoulders and knees are customary)

Good to Know & Caveats

• The tour runs in English only.
• No cave house is included; budget extra if you want to enter one afterward.
• Expect stairs and uneven stone in the Sasso Caveoso.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

Meeting Point

In the upper part of Matera's city center; the exact spot is on your voucher.