Matera: Ape Calessino Sassi Tour with Private Driver

Summary

Matera’s ancient Sassi by tuk tuk with photo stops and cave visits

You’ll ride through Matera’s ancient Sassi in a classic Ape Calessino tuk tuk with a friendly local driver—no big groups or rushing around. Stop for photos at sweeping viewpoints, visit cool cave homes, and enjoy stories along the way. The tour is stroller-friendly and lets you soak up Matera’s atmosphere without breaking a sweat.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — we almost missed the start because I got distracted by a bakery near the piazza (that smell of fresh focaccia just pulls you in). Our driver, Antonio, just grinned and waved us over to the little blue Ape Calessino, no rush at all. The thing looked like a toy but somehow fit all three of us plus my nephew’s stroller. There was this gentle rattling as we zipped off into Matera’s old town, sun bouncing off pale stone walls and laundry flapping overhead.

I’d read about the Sassi but it’s different when you’re actually winding through those narrow lanes — you can hear voices echoing from somewhere above or behind a doorway, and every corner smells faintly of dust and basil. Antonio pointed out churches tucked into rock faces and stopped so we could peek inside one of those cave houses (Case Grotte), which felt cool and almost damp compared to the heat outside. My nephew kept trying to touch everything. At one point I tried repeating something Antonio said in Italian — he laughed so hard I thought he’d stall the tuk tuk.

The whole tour felt relaxed, not rushed at all. We could hop out for photos whenever something caught our eye (which was often), and there was this moment where the city opened up below us — honestly, I still think about that view sometimes. It wasn’t perfect; I spilled some water on myself during a bumpy stretch, but nobody cared. By the end, my shoes were dusty and my phone full of crooked photos, but it felt like we’d actually seen Matera instead of just ticking it off a list.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Matera by Ape Calessino

• Ride Ape Calessino through Old Town
• Cross the Sassi neighborhoods
• Stop for photos and videos
• Visit churches in the squares
• See characteristic Case Grotte museums

Top questions

Is this Ape Calessino tour in Matera private or shared?

The tour is private—just for your group with your own driver.

Can infants or children join the Matera Sassi tuk tuk tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join; strollers are welcome onboard.

Is there an audio guide available for non-Italian speakers?

Yes, there’s a multilingual audio guide in Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, and English.

Does the tour include stops for photos or visits inside sites?

Yes, there are short stops for photos and to visit churches or cave house museums along the route.

How long does it take to get around Matera by Ape Calessino?

The tour optimizes time by zipping through narrow streets that would be tiring to walk—especially in summer.

Are service animals allowed on this Matera tuk tuk tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed on this tour.

Is public transportation nearby after the tour ends?

Yes, public transportation options are available close to where the tour finishes.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation through Matera’s old town in an Ape Calessino with an Italian-speaking driver (and multilingual audio guide if needed), plus plenty of chances to stop for photos or explore cave houses—stroller access is no problem either.