Learn on to search out essentially the most epic Matera guided excursions accessible, so that you get to find Italy’s oldest metropolis with an professional in its historical past and archaeology.
Situated within the Basilicata area in Southern Italy, Matera is the nation’s oldest metropolis and the third oldest metropolis on the earth (!) It’s additionally an absolute dream vacation spot for historical past and archaeology buffs and a extremely beneficial place to go to when in Italy.
Acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Website, Matera dates again to the third century BC, and it boasts magnificent stays of historical life, together with caves, primitive settlements, rock church buildings, and an enthralling panorama.
I used to be born and raised in Bologna, in Northern Italy, however for some cause, I didn’t make it to Matera till final yr. Massive mistake – I used to be completely blown away by it! Matera shortly turned certainly one of my very favourite locations in Italy, and I can’t wait to return and spend one other lengthy weekend there. It’s such a novel place, not like another within the nation.
The easiest way to discover the city is, in my view, with a Matera guided tour. Whereas it’s an interesting vacation spot even in case you’re aimlessly wandering round its streets, its historical past, significance, and the mesmerizing tales tied to Matera can solely be found in case you go to with an professional.
For that reason, I’ve compiled the easiest Matera guided excursions that can assist you select the one which most closely fits your pursuits and finances. Verify them out!
I typically use Viator and Get Your Guide to guide excursions all over the world. I particularly advocate them for his or her nice cancellation coverage, which lets you cancel most actions as much as 24 hours upfront and get a full refund.
The BEST Matera Strolling Excursions
▶️ Discover the Ancient City – Matera Tour in English or Italian is a really complete expertise that means that you can get rather more than a glimpse of this historical metropolis. Together with a small group of individuals, you’ll comply with your English-speaking information to the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, and discover the traditional dwellings and rock church buildings of Sassi.
Get pleasure from gorgeous views of the valley and stroll alongside the slender alleys as you study Matera’s millennia of historical past, a city that was once referred to as the Disgrace of Italy and ended up being acknowledged as an necessary World Heritage.
📝 This Matera strolling tour consists of: A guided tour round Matera. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ Sassi di Matera Guided Tour is a half-day expertise that introduces you to Matera’s oldest districts: Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, which comprise Sassi di Matera. Inhabited constantly for over 7 thousand years, the Sassi characteristic astounding rock church buildings, cave homes, piazzas, and a placing Apulian-Romanesque Cathedral overlooking the town.
Your professional information will present fascinating insights in regards to the metropolis’s historical past and the way it’s modified all through the centuries, permitting you to really delve into this fascinating location.
📝 This tour consists of: A information, and entry tickets to the caves. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ A Matera Private Walking Tour is good in case you’re touring together with your associate, household, or a gaggle of pals. You’ll profit out of your information’s undivided consideration and get to ask all of your questions as you stroll across the historic middle of Matera.
The tour will take you to a spectacular cave-house that was inhabited till the twentieth century, rupestrian church buildings, rocks, and the cathedral which sits atop one of many city’s highest factors.
📝 This tour consists of: A personal information. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
The Greatest Ape Excursions in Matera (Tuk Tuk)
▶️ Ape Tour Matera – Panoramic Tour in Ape Calessino is an extremely enjoyable method of exploring this historical metropolis. An ape is actually a tuk-tuk that can zip you thru the steep lanes of Matera as you discover its historic districts with out getting drained.
You’ll go to the city’s fundamental points of interest accompanied by a educated information, which allows you to perceive the significance of the landmarks you’re passing by. You’ll cease to admire the views from a viewpoint and go to unbelievable caves which are hundreds of years previous.
📝 This Matera tuk tuk tour consists of: A driver/information, and transportation. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ Ape Tour Matera – Guided Tour in Ape Calessino is one other unbelievable tuk-tuk guided expertise. You’ll discover three districts within the Sassi of Matera, listening to curiosities and fascinating information in regards to the city’s historical past and stopping to get pleasure from panoramic views, and visiting a cave and rock church.
The tuk tuk tour of Matera takes solely an hour, so that you’ll have the remainder of the day free to wander at your leisure, seeing the city with new (and extra knowledgeable) eyes.
📝 This tour consists of: Transportation and a information. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Murgia Park Rocky Curches Excursions (Unmissable!)
▶️ Murgia Park Rocky Curches Tour takes you to a completely beautiful attraction you can’t miss when in Matera. The tour of the park grants you entry to the placing rock church buildings the place you’ll be able to admire their centuries-old Byzantine frescoes, try the scenic views from Golgota, and delight within the panorama of Matera because the solar units.
Be ready to discover a millennium of historical past, tracing the steps of numerous generations of residents and being in awe of the fabulous sights. You’ll even get to see the spot the place Mel Gibson filmed his film The Ardour of the Christ!
📝 This tour consists of: Transfers to the park, entry charges, and a information. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ Be a part of this Sassi and Murgia Tour by Electric Bike to cross by way of the neighborhoods of Matera effortlessly, relying in your e-bike to ascend the steep alleys.
After exploring the districts of Sassi you’ll head to the Murgia Materana Nationwide Park, with stops at an historical tuff quarry, a rock church, and the point of view of Murgia Timone, from which the views over Matera are unparalleled.
📝 This tour consists of: E-bike and helmet rental, and a information. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Matera Meals Excursions & Eating Experiences
▶️ Who can say no to a Food and Wine Tour between the Patriarchs Olives and the Oil Temples? Higher but if it takes place in Italy’s most historic metropolis, Matera. You’ll begin the day having breakfast underneath a Patriarch olive tree after which head into the Materan rocky countryside referred to as Murgia.
You’ll cross by way of historical caves in your technique to an previous farmhouse, the place you’ll be launched to the standard bread of Matera and get to organize certainly one of its most conventional dishes, the cialledda. Take pleasure in a meal accomplished with baked olives, salami, and Primitivo wine, and delight within the sounds of Matera’s conventional music and songs.
📝 This tour consists of: Meal and a information. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ Dining Experience at a Local’s Home must be some of the genuine excursions in Matera, Italy. You’ll be part of a neighborhood of their home to be taught scrumptious Italian recipes which have been handed down by way of generations and relish a 4-course meal.
Begin by witnessing a cooking demonstration, a great excuse to ask all of your culinary questions and write down some secret suggestions, after which be part of your host for a selfmade lunch or dinner paired with wine and low, and certainly fascinating dialog.
📝 This tour consists of: A 4-course lunch or dinner with drinks at a neighborhood’s residence. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ Be a part of a Six Course Truffle Tasting Tour for the last word foodie expertise. You’ll head to the middle of Matera and go to a store that focuses on Basilicata’s star product: the truffle. You’ll get to be taught all the things about it and pattern conventional dishes that embody this valuable ingredient.
A six-course meal consisting of truffle sauces with bread, cheese, and different dairy merchandise, truffle salami, and panna cotta with truffle honey ought to most positively make up for lunch, so make sure to have an empty abdomen earlier than beginning the exercise! It’s arguably some of the fascinating (and scrumptious!) Matera excursions!
📝 This tour consists of: Tastings of six truffle specialties, and a truffle professional to information the expertise. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Night time Strolling Tour of Matera
A Walking Tour of Matera at Sunset means that you can see the town in the course of the day and witness the way it will get remodeled because the solar units. You’ll go to centuries-old cave dwellings, stroll by way of the Sassi districts, and benefit from the views at Murgia Nationwide Park as you be taught in regards to the historical past of Matera out of your information.
You’ll end the tour by visiting a Rupestrian church that overlooks the town, seeing because it lights up for the night.
📝 This tour consists of: A tour information. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
James Bond 007 Guided Tour in Matera
Able to reside a cinematic expertise in Matera? Guide the James Bond 007 Guided Tour to comply with the steps of the world’s most well-known undercover agent. You’ll meet a Matera tour information and comply with them round city as they present you the spots the place a number of of the James Bond motion pictures have been shot.
You’ll hear anecdotes and fascinating details about the capturing in Matera, and get to snap photos within the locations the place Bond, James Bond carried out lots of his heroic actions.
📝 This Matera James Bond tour consists of: A tour information. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Matera Guided Excursions FAQ
Because the oldest metropolis in Italy, and holding unbelievable details about the historical past and customs of historical civilizations, Matera is 100% price visiting in my view.
Sure, you’ll be able to actually stroll round Matera, though it’s a must to take into accounts that its slender lanes and alleys are typically fairly steep. You probably have mobility points, strolling on the town is likely to be tough.
Essentially the most particular facet of Matera is its unbelievable historical past and structure: it’s the nation’s oldest metropolis in spite of everything, and it’s been constantly inhabited for hundreds of years!