Matera tour with cave homes and local food tasting
Excursions & day trips

Matera tour with cave homes and local food tasting

4.3/5
Excellent
Based on 23 reviews
from
£87.00
Free cancellation
Language: German, English, French
Mobile voucher accepted
Duration: more than 8 hours

This experience meets the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria. By choosing this experience you can protect the places you love, care for the environment and support local communities.

Why you’ll love this…
  • You'll get a unique perspective on hilltop Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • There's a visit to one of the most outstanding troglodyte settlements on the agenda
  • At a real traditional sasso restaurant, you'll be able to try typical Basilicata food and wine
  • A chance to explore the cave house museum or a rupestrian church as an optional extra
  • Your tour will be led by an expert local guide with an unrivalled knowledge of Matera
What to expect

Matera has a lot going for it – it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, European Capital of Culture 2019 and a cave city dating back over 5,000 years. Tour its historic lanes and ancient cave dwellings, try local Basilicata food and wine, then choose to visit the cave house museum or a rupestrian church. Anna, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘The cave houses of Matera were once considered a shameful place to live, best known for poverty, disease and crime. Nowadays, many caves have been transformed into chic homes, restaurants, and hotels.'

Considered one of the most outstanding and intact troglodyte settlements, Matera's big draw are the ancient cave dwellings known as ‘sassi', which translates to ‘stones'. First up, we'll check out the baroque quarter, where churches and palaces are built on top of the caves. Next, we'll venture into the Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso areas to see ancient sassi carved into the flanks of Gravina canyon. The dramatic setting overlooking the wild, rocky landscape is all part of the charm.

You'll pause for thought in the old quarters, where inhabitants lived in squalor up until the 1950s, which was when the whole population of around 20,000 was rehoused. Wandering around today's visually arresting town, it seems hard to believe how tough life once was here. You'll also get to try typical food and wine a restaurant housed in a real traditional sasso, before choosing between an optional visit to the cave house museum or a rupestrian church, cut into the rock.

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What's included
  • check Transport
  • check Guide
  • check Tasting
What to remember
  • Bring suitable footwear
  • Some entrance fees and optional extras are payable locally
Read more
Provider
TUI ITALIA S.R.L.
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

Excellent

4.3/5

Based on 23 reviews from verified customers

57%
26%
17%
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  • Jean-Pierre

    From United States of America - September 2025

    Travelled as a couple

     

    45 - 54 years old

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

    Belle excursion en général, chauffeur du minibus très bien, notre guide, professionnelle, très gentille, bienveillante et à l'écoute de nos besoins. R ...

  • Andrew

    From United States of America - September 2025

    Travelled as a couple

     

    35 - 44 years old

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

    The tour guide Angela was amazingly knowledgable about Matera and its history. Valeria met us in the hotel and she was extremely helpful prior to deci ...

  • Rosa

    From United States of America - September 2025

    Travelled as a couple

     

    25 - 34 years old

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    4/5

    Dans l'ensemble tout était bien à part peut-être le repas de midi ou nous avons été un peu déçu.

  • Jean-Pierre Schoels

    From United States of America - July 2025

    Travelled with family

     

    45 - 54 years old

    Great

    Overall rated

    4/5

    Wat de maaltijd betreft, deze was voor de meeste deelnemers niet zo lekker, enkel de snacks werden gewaardeerd. Ook de beloofde wijnproeverij hebben w ...

  • Go for it - very interesting

    From United States of America - July 2025

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

  • Frank_deBoch

    From United States of America - July 2025

    Travelled as a couple

     

    45 - 54 years old

    Great

    Overall rated

    3/5

    Dolmetscherin war sehr professionell. Das essen war passabel. Was die Sicherheit anbelangt, konnte man Hut/Schirm anbieten. Es war sehr Heiss! Ansonst ...