Matera Sassi: Walking Tour with Casa Grotta & Church

Walking the Sassi: Stone Streets and Centuries Underfoot in Matera

You walk through the ancient stone quarters of Matera with a licensed guide who explains the layout and history as you move through both the Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. You enter a traditionally furnished cave house and a rock-carved church, see the Cathedral viewpoint, and get a map and radio guide to stay connected. The whole tour takes two to three hours and includes a discount voucher for local shops before you return.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore historic Sassi of Matera

• Pass by point of interest
• Visit historic square at Civita foot
• See Cathedral of Matera at Civita top
• Tour heart of the Sassi of Matera
• Pass by suggestive Sassi square
• View Sassi di Matera from Piazzetta Pascoli
• Pass by another point of interest

The experience

You step into the narrow lanes of the Sassi, and the city closes around you almost immediately. The streets of Matera are not wide. They curve and dip and sometimes seem to fold back on themselves, carved straight from the pale limestone that holds the whole district up. Your guide moves ahead, pointing out the way the buildings stack and lean, how families once lived in caves that open directly onto the alley, how the rock itself is both wall and roof. The Sassi of Matera feels less like a neighborhood and more like a single organism made of stone and time.

The walking tour moves through both the Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, the two main quarters, with stops at Piazza San Pietro (the square at the foot of the Civita where locals still cross and meet), and then up to the Cathedral at the highest point, where the view opens out across the entire Sasso Caveoso and you can see how the dwellings tier down the ravine like a vast, inhabited cliff face. A radio guide comes with the tour if you need it, which means you can hear clearly even when the group spreads out a little on the narrower stretches. The pace is steady but not rushed. This is a place where stopping to look matters more than covering distance.

Inside the Casa Grotta, a traditionally furnished cave house, you see how people actually lived here, the kitchen carved into the stone, the sleeping alcoves, the way light and air moved through rooms that were part dwelling and part shelter. Then there's the rock church, one of several carved into the Sassi itself, its interior simple and austere. Your guide carries a map of the district, and you get one too, along with a discount voucher for local shops if you want to pick up something after. The whole experience runs two to three hours, and it's designed for any fitness level, though the streets do have steps and uneven surfaces. Nothing extreme, but not flat either.

Parking takes time in Matera, so arriving early matters. There's no toilet at the agency, so plan for that before you start. If you're bringing children, the tour operator rents baby carriers and backpacks. The tour waits five minutes past the departure time, then leaves without you, so punctuality is real. Service animals are welcome, and pets can come along if they're muzzled.

What’s included

Your day includes a licensed, experienced local guide who leads you through both the Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso quarters, entry to a traditionally furnished Casa Grotta and a rock-carved church, a map of the Sassi district, a radio guide (if needed to hear the guide from up to 15 meters away), and a discount voucher for typical local products and souvenirs at Matera City Tour infoPoints. The itinerary may change based on conditions.

Options for this experience

3 options

Visit in Italian10:30 and 15:00

Visit in EnglishGuide in Italian · 10:30 and 16:30

Spanish tourGuide in Italian · 10:30 and 16:00

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:30, 15:00, 16:00 and 16:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (7 to 15 years) · Child (under 7): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideItalian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Matera City Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand how the Sassi actually works (the layout, the dwellings, the way the district is organized) without arranging a guide yourself or getting lost in the maze of streets. The licensed guide and map remove the navigation puzzle and give you the context that makes the stone make sense.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 15 years); Child (under 7): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Matera Sassi walking tour?

Approximately two to three hours, moving through the main quarters at a steady pace with several stops for views and interior visits.

What's included in the tour?

A licensed local guide, entry to a Casa Grotta (furnished cave house) and a rock church, a map of the Sassi, a radio guide if needed, and a discount voucher for local shops.

Is the walking tour suitable for people with limited fitness?

Yes, it's suitable for all fitness levels, though the streets have steps and uneven surfaces. There are no extreme climbs, but the terrain is not flat.

What time should I arrive?

Arrive early to allow time for parking, which can take a while in Matera. The tour departs on schedule and waits a maximum of five minutes. After that, you cannot join and won't receive a refund.

Is there a toilet at the tour meeting point?

No. Plan accordingly and use facilities before the tour begins.

What is a Casa Grotta?

A traditionally furnished cave house that shows how families lived in the Sassi, with kitchen, sleeping areas, and other rooms carved into the stone.

Will I see the Cathedral?

Yes. The tour includes a stop at the Cathedral, located at the highest point of the Civita, which offers a panoramic view of the Sasso Barisano.