Private Old Town And Sassi

Private Old Town and Sassi, 2 hours, rated 4.9 across 109 traveller reviews.

Overview

This two hour private walk is run by Passi nei Sassi, and it is built around one guide for your group alone. The route threads the alleys of the Sassi, passes rock cut dwellings, and pauses at viewpoints over the old quarters. Two interiors are on the program: a Casa Grotta furnished as it was when families lived in the cave houses, and a rock church with old frescoes, the church of Santa Maria de Idris.

The guide sets the pace, and the listing describes the tour as adjustable in time and rhythm, which suits couples, families and small groups who prefer not to share a guide with strangers. Entrance fees for the cave church and the Casa Grotta are included in the booking. The walk begins at the operator's office on Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, near Via Lucana, and finishes in Piazza Giovanni Pascoli.

Reviewers mention learning a great deal about the city's history and having their questions answered, and one reviewer noted their guide extended the tour after the group arrived late. The exact start time is arranged with the operator before the day.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the operator's officeThe starting point is Passi nei Sassi, Via Don Giovanni Minzoni 13, near Via Lucana 187 in Matera. Confirm the start time with the operator in advance.
2. Walk the old townThe guide leads the group through the alleys of the Sassi, past houses carved into the rock, with stops at viewpoints along the way.
3. Visit a Casa GrottaThe group enters a typical cave house furnished as it would have been, to show how peasant families lived in the Sassi. Entrance is included.
4. Enter a rock churchThe route includes the cave church of Santa Maria de Idris, carved into the rock and decorated with ancient frescoes. Entrance is included.
5. Finish at Piazza Giovanni PascoliThe tour ends in Piazza Giovanni Pascoli.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points help before booking this walk.

• Private pace. Only your group takes part, with no other travellers joining. The booking page says the timing and rhythm can be adapted, and one reviewer described the pace as relaxed.
• Arrive early. One reviewer had parking trouble and arrived late, though the guide still accommodated them and extended the tour. The meeting point is on Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, near Via Lucana.
• Ask questions. The guide is dedicated to your group, and one reviewer said theirs answered every question the group had. Reviewers also credited the guides with teaching them a great deal about the city's history.
• Confirm the time. The start time is not fixed on the booking page. The listing asks travellers to confirm the hour with the operator before the experience.
• Weather matters. The listing states the experience requires good weather. If it is cancelled for poor conditions, travellers are offered a different date or a full refund.
• Getting there. The meeting point is near public transportation, which helps for arrival. The walk itself is on foot through the old quarters for two hours.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, according to the listing, so anyone with limited mobility should consider that before booking. It also requires a minimum number of travellers, and if that minimum is not met the operator offers a different date or experience, or a full refund. Weather can cause cancellation, with the same remedy of a new date or a refund. Cancellations by travellers made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded, and no changes are accepted inside that window.

Common Questions