2. Matera: Guided Walking Tour of the Sassi with Light Lunch
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. Enjoy a light lunch, sampling Matera's traditional food delicacies and pairing it with fine local wine, right at the end of your guided tour.