Matera Tour: Explore Ancient Sassi Caves

Explore Matera’s ancient caves and rock churches with Gaetano. Discover hidden gems, breathtaking views, and the city’s transformation into a UNESCO site.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Sassi di Matera - The Sassi, the historic neighborhoods of Matera.
  • La Raccolta delle Acque - Visitors will explore the vast cistern used for rainwater collection and discover how the residents of Matera gathered rainwater, crucial for the community’s survival.
What's Included
  • Visit the ancient cave houses
  • Visit Matera with a licensed and experienced local tour guide
  • Visit the palombaro, the rainwater collection system, for which Matera was named a UNESCO site.
  • Discover the beauty of Matera and learn its secrets
Additional Information

Beginning at Piazza S. Pietro Caveoso, visitors will embark on a journey through the Sassi, the city’s historic districts. Experience the allure of Matera, from its stunning and awe-inspiring viewpoints to its most secluded and captivating spots.
As you enter the caves of Matera, you will witness the way families once lived. The tour includes a visit to…

Location
Piazza San Pietro Caveoso
The tour guide will wait for you in front of the church of S. Pietro. The guide will wear an identification badge. It is advised to arrive 10 minutes before the tour. There are two parking lots: one is in Via Pasquale Vena, the other one is in Via Rocco Scotellaro.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(27 Ratings)
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Amartella
Apr 21, 2026
Perfect walking tour of an amazing city - Gaetano was energetic, funny and interesting. This was a perfect 2 hour walking tour through the amazing city of Matera. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cory_d
Apr 21, 2026
Must do - The tour was great! Gaetano was much information about Matera. We saw so much in the two hours. We recommend doing it.
Review provided by Viator
Heather_b
Apr 18, 2026
Make the most of your visit to Matera with a walking tour! - Gaetano is a great guide -- knowledgeable and clearly a fan of the people of Matera, for whom he shows respect and admiration. He brings humor and historical insight to his stories, talking nearly the entire 2 hours and managing to keep everyone interested and engaged. A highlight of our trip to unforgettable Matera!
Review provided by Viator
Tomas_c
Apr 18, 2026
Best walking tour ever! - Probably the best walking tour we've ever had! Gaetano was very knowledgeable about the history of the city. He was also open to answer any questions we had during the tour. His way of explaining the amazing history of Matera is very fun, and you can tell he really loves the city and its people. Absolutely recommended if you want a great guide!! Thank you for everything!
Review provided by Viator
Megan_b
Apr 12, 2026
Do this tour! It was both... - Do this tour! It was both informative and entertaining. Got to see some special areas of Matera! There are so many tour options and it was difficult to choose, but I am very glad we picked this one!
Review provided by Viator
Simon_e
Apr 8, 2026
Best Matera Walking Tour in English - What can we say about this tour today with Gateano 😎 we have done walking guided tours in quite a few European cities and this one was by far the best yet. Gateanos English is impecable, he made the tour fun, exciting and highly informative giving perspective from a true Materians point of view and letting us know how life would have been lived on all different sides of the cliffs from Sasso Caveso side as well as Sasso Barisano side. We got to see inside a cave and how life would have been for the inhabitants & their animals. If you want true facts and, a fun tour, book with Gataeno you won’t be disappointed ps one day, we will be back Gateano, to have gelato in your world famous Gelatoria in the caves. Thank you
Review provided by Viator
Anita_l
Apr 5, 2026
Informative tour with humorous bcp - The guide explains very well how people lived here in the last century. It is very interesting and fun. Thank you.
Review provided by Viator
Joe_h
Mar 30, 2026
Matera cave tour - Gaetano is a highly-knowledgeable local guide who informed and entertained us for two delightful hours in Matera. Well worth the time!
Review provided by Viator
Martin_m
Mar 28, 2026
Charming and... - Charming and knowledgeable guide. Took around and explained the structure and history of Matera - not always obvious at first sight.
Review provided by Viator
Silvia_m
Mar 25, 2026
Excellent tour - Gaetano was passionate and knew everything about Matera. He was also funny, witty and incredibly thoughtful, ensuring that everyone was comfortable at all times. We learnt a lot from this tour and would definitely recommend Gaetano to anyone wishing to enhance their visit to Matera.
Review provided by Viator
From $23
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).