Things to do in

Piazza Vittorio Veneto

Historic Center and Sassi TourIt consists of a walking tour from the main square of the historic centre, Piazza Vittorio Veneto (starting point, arch-shaped fountain reference), with a panoramic view of the Sasso Barisano.Continue through the historic center until you reach Piazza Duomo where it will be possible to view the Cathedral from the outside and then enter the Sasso Caveoso. From here there will be a visit to the furnished house of peasant civilization, a frescoed rock church, a visit to the barbaric cemetery and the various neighborhoods.Everything will be explained by an authorized guide, which will allow you to understand the history of the city.The tour will end in Piazza Giovanni Pascoli in the historic center, close to the Sasso Caveoso.

Meet your guide at Piazza Vittorio Veneto in Matera. From here, your expert guide will introduce you to the districts of Sassi. From the square, head to the heart of the historical center, where you will find the wonderful Apulian-Romanesque Church of San Giovanni Battista. Continue with a visit to Casa Cava, a hypogeum used in ancient times as a quarry, today turned into a convention center, thanks to outstanding restoration work. Stop at Sasso Barisano, to visit the rock church of Sant'Antonio Abate where you’ll find a pleasant surprise waiting inside, a classic example of the traditional culture of this remarkable city.  Move on to Sasso Caveoso to visit a typical Matera cave-house before continuing along Via Madonna delle Virtù and Porta Pistoia. Make a short stop at Piazza San Pietro Caveoso and stroll down one of the main streets of Sassi, Via Bruno Buozzi, to reach the second rock church of Madonna delle Grazie. Continue to the Baroque Church of Purgatorio. Next stop will be Piazza San Francesco d’ Assisi where you will visit the church dedicated to the Saint and from there you will move to Piazza del Sedile, Parliament's headquarters during the domination of the Kingdom of Naples. Finish your tour with a visit to the magnificent Apulian-Romanesque Cathedral, overlooking the highest part of the city.

You will meet a local tour guide in the main square, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, where you'll begin your walking tour admiring the landscape of the historic center from unique viewpoints. Then the tour will lead you through the historic center, covering topics of Matera history on the way. Matera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been chosen as the 2019 European Capital of Culture, an important acknowledgment for its history and beauty which has been carved in stone.  Walking among the "Sassi" (the ancient neighborhoods of Sasso Barisano e Sasso Caveoso), you will discover the cave houses and churches carved in the rock, as well as the newly restored Cathedral. From the Cathedral which is built on a high point of the hill, you will enjoy enchanting views over the historic center and of Murgia Materana Park, an area characterized by hills and Mediterranean vegetation.  Over the course of 2 hours, you will be completely immersed in a magical unique land, seeing all of the major sights of Matera.

Enter the streets of Matera through this special tour. You'll be guided comfortably through the most beautiful parts of the city, with your local guide explaining the beauties that you will see along the way. You'll first visit the Purgatory Church, which boasts a wonderful Baroque Facade. Following that, you will reach the Romanesque cathedral which sits in the main square of Piazza Vittorio Veneto. After the cathedral, it will be time to begin your descent down to Sassi. Your tour includes stops to some of the most picturesque areas, from where you will be free to take beautiful pictures of both Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso.

Starting from the main square of the city 'Piazza Vittorio Veneto', you will explore the 'Sassi', the ancient districts of the city. From the most beautiful and breathtaking viewpoints, to the most hidden and fascinating corners. Entering in to the caves of Matera, you will see how the families were living. You will learn about the ingenious system for the rainwater collection, essential for the survival of the population. Knowing all the secrets of Matera, you will learn how this city went from being the 'shame of Italy' to be a UNESCO site and a jewel of the Italian cultural heritage.

The city of Matera has become an important filming location since the 50’s. Most of the films produced here share different biblical topics due to the fascinating landscapes of the ancient city which are very similar to locations you can find in Holy Land. Though in 2019, another "action" side of Matera was revealed by the new 007 “No Time To Die” film shooting. Step behind the scenes of the greatest spy film of all time while exploring the streets and history of Matera. Explore both the Sasso Caveoso and the Sasso Barisano and visit Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Piazza San Giovanni, via Madonna delle Virtù, admiring the view from the Civita area and Piazza Duomo. Enjoy a special cocktail '007' at the end of the guided tour.

The Walking Guided Tour of the Sassi starts in Piazza Pascoli with a historical and anthropological introduction of the Sassi neighborhoods. The tour continues through the historic center. Along the way, the guide will illustrate Baroque churches such as the Church of Purgatory and the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi. After visiting Piazza Vittorio Veneto - the main square of the historic center - the guide will lead you to explore an extraordinary hypogeum environment and, afterward, typically furnished cave-house with household furniture and work tools used by farmers in the fields. Crossing the Barisano neighborhood you enter the Sasso Caveoso area, dominated by the Monterrone cliff. On the top of the cliff, as indicated by a wrought iron cross, there are two ancient places of worship: the two churches of Madonna dell'Idris and San Giovanni in Monterrone completely carved into the rock. The tour continues with the visit to a rock-hewn church.

A local licensed tourist guide will lead you to discover the history and architecture of the two districts of The Sassi area, Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, Unesco world heritage site since 1993. During the cultural tour, it will be possible to visit cisterns, rock churches or cave dwellings, also walking on movie locations. The main attraction of our tour is the visit of a fascinating underground space of 500 m², dating back to 1500-1700, completely carved into the rock, an exclusive Crea Experience site, which will show you a different perspective of the famous cave life of Matera. It's composed by water tanks, wine cellars and silos and embodies the essence of Matera rural production and culture: a visible example of the water collection system and a synthesis of the historical and architectural continuity of the Sassi city. The tour is a continuous discovery and is ideal, as well, for people interested in history and curious tourists who want to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of the place, beyond the postcard image. The cultural tour starts from Piazza Vittorio Veneto (the main square of Matera). The tour is limited to small groups of up to 15 people.

Discover one of Matera’s ancient landscapes on a guided tour of Sassi, exploring the UNESCO-listed site’s alleys, churches, and historical caves on this unique cultural adventure. During the tour, it will be possible to visit cisterns, rock churches or cave dwellings, also walking on movie locations. The city of Matera is divided into Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano; in the middle is the flat area called “Civita”. Crossing the numerous alleys it is possible to admire ever-changing glimpses of Matera. The tour is a continuous discovery and is ideal, as well, for people interested in history and curious tourists who want to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of the place. You will have the chance to observe the city through the eyes of a historian, who will show you not only the artistic beauty, but also the social, cultural and political value of a truly magical place. This will allow to experience history of the city, its evolution and internal dinamycs that have affected Matera over the centuries. We offer an enveloping tale that will enthrall young and old alike in our culture. Everywhere is a Belvedere from which you can admire and snap pictures of a spectacular view of Matera and its Gravina river which literally splits the outside of the city with this gigantic Canyon. Absolutely not to be missed is looking out from the Giovanni Pascoli viewpoint which is located next to Palazzo Lanfranchi. In the evening with the street lamps lit the atmosphere is magical and Matera truly looks like a nativity scene. Tour is limited to small groups of up to 15 people. "Walking through these streets is like walking through history".

Wander through Turin's city center and learn about its identity on this treasure hunt-style historical walking tour. Follow the route on your smartphone between landmarks like the city squares, and enjoy 8 historical riddles to solve as you explore. Start this self-guided tour from Gran Madre di Dio Church. From here, follow the tour on your smartphone, which will provide historical facts and riddles to solve between each landmark. The tour will take you through the history and culture of Turin, and cover roughly 3km around the city center.