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Sassi Tour: Explore Ancient Dwellings Dug into Barisano and Caveoso Tuff
4.5
50 Ratings
Matera
Old homes carved into the tuff. A profound ‘canyon’ (gravina) traversed by a creek. Ceilings that transform into floors for residences on the higher tiers. A complex system of narrow streets, giving the feel of strolling through a papier-mâché nativity display.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Museo di Palazzo lanfranchi - The Tour of the two Sassi starts with a historical-architectural and anthropological introduction to the Sassi of Matera carried out in Piazzetta Pascoli. The guide will also illustrate the history of Palazzo Lanfranchi which dominates the small square.
- Piazza Vittorio Veneto - During the walk on the city plan, you come across two Baroque style churches, the Church of Purgatory and the Church of San Francesco d’Assisi. Continuing along Via delle Beccherie, the city’s ancient commercial corridor, you find yourself in Piazza Vittorio Veneto. From here, after having appreciated the nineteenth-century Ferdinand fountain, commissioned by the King of the Two Sicilies Ferdinand II, and the panorama of the Sasso Barisano.
- Casa Cava - Once you reach the bottom of Sasso Barisano, you visit an underground space, Casa Cava.
- Casa Grotta Sassi di Matera - C’era Una Volta - Once you reach the bottom of Sasso Barisano, you visit a typically furnished cave house, a demonstration of how the miserable peasant civilization lived until the mid-1950s, the workshop of the famous master tuff maker “Sassi in Miniatura”.
- Church of Santa Maria de Idris - We continue to the Sasso Caveoso district with a visit to a rock church, completely dug into the rock and a treasure chest of Italian-Greek monasticism with precious iconographic testimonies from the 10th-13th centuries. A visit to the archaeological area of the necropolis of the “Barbaric Cemetery” is not to be missed, a vast area dedicated to around 150 burials dug into the rock, still visible, dating back to the 7th century. A.D. and from which you can admire a wonderful view of the cliff of the ravine and the settlement of the “Rione Casalnovo” or “Albanian neighborhood”.
- Province of Matera - The tour ends, going back up to the city level, near the Provincial Palace, with a small tasting of typical Lucanian products.
What's Included
- Entry to a traditional cave house
- Admission to a quarry house
- Sampling of local specialties
- Access to a rock church
What's Not Included
- Private transportation
Location
Via Domenico Ridola, 61
Via Domenico Ridola
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(50 Ratings)
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Ivanct8556tw
Jul 4, 2024
Visit to Matera unforgettable - Breathtaking landscape , Manduria is very reminiscent of Capadocia, guided tour with Mrs. Linda amazing because very prepared person engaging with an extra gear... congratulations really
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melissa_p
Jun 16, 2024
Great Guide! - Antonio was a great guide! He is very knowledgeable and has an easy personality and manner to explore Matera!
Review provided by Viator
Conan1951
Jun 8, 2024
Antonio...unique!! - Already Matera and its stones are wonderful.
If we add a guide like Antonio who is truly exceptional in terms of competence....simplicity in exposition.....deep knowledge of the area...as well as friendliness, everything makes the visit to a unique city of its kind extremely pleasant.
We absolutely recommend the Agency and the advice of Mr. Antonio (among other things, a really good painter and in love with his city)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robert_p
May 31, 2024
Matera at its Best - The town is amazing and the history behind it is more so. So glad we went with the private tour. Stella, our tour guide was pleasant, well spoken, knowledgeable and delightful. I highly recommended her as a guide, you will not be disappointed.
Review provided by Viator
Marcops133ao
Apr 12, 2024
A journey through time - Thanks to Barbara who accompanied us and expertly illustrated the history of the Sassi of Matera. Absolutely recommended and thank you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tourist25312426027
Mar 16, 2024
Great guide and wonderful tour - A beautiful visit that I recommend to discover the history of the Sassi. The guide was good and very knowledgeable. He involved us and made us feel like we were Matera people too.
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828ettorec
Mar 5, 2024
Experience to remember - Antonio the guide, friendly and very knowledgeable, involves you with his explanations.
Chiara introduced us to the Lucanian food and wine world in an excellent way! Highly recommended!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marie19512015
Jan 30, 2024
Beautiful historial old village.... unique to Italy - Stopping in Matera was a last minute add to our travels in this area of Italy. it. We were so glad we did. We took a private walking tour which really was worth the money. We learn a lot about the history of this place. At night its beautiful with the soft lighting that has been placed on all these centuries old dwellings. (20,000 people lived here) Make sure you go inside the rock church and the museum that lets you see what life was like living in these hillside dwellings. The amazing part to me as people lived in these primitive dwelling until 1951.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Inspire23066201725
Jun 12, 2024
Neither meat nor meat - The tour was very interesting, perhaps too fast in some moments and slow in others. Interesting to know all the puzzles that our guide told us. Unfortunately we were not able to taste the last part of the tour due to too much time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bonnie_l
Apr 17, 2024
Barbara was fine.... - Barbara was fine. Pleasant and willing. Her English needed to be a little stronger. A lot of information but seemed to be delivered by rote. She was a good sport since it was very hot and we covered a lot of territory.
Review provided by Viator
