Sassi Walk, Premium Guides

Sassi Walk, Premium Guides, 2 hours, rated 4.9 across 509 traveller reviews.

Overview

This two-hour walk sets off from the Seekers Viaggi office on Via Lucana, in the upper part of Matera's centre, and works its way down into the Sassi districts with a guide who leads the group in fluent English. The route begins in the livelier part of town where residents still live, then heads toward the cave districts to explain how the city took shape over the centuries. Sasso Barisano comes first, admired from a panoramic terrace, before the tour drops into the internal alleys of Sasso Caveoso with stops along the way.

The operators have deliberately chosen the sites where a guide adds the most, and one of those is a rock-hewn church, Santa Lucia alle Malve, whose entry ticket is included in the price. The tour finishes at the church itself, and the guide closes with suggestions for other places worth visiting independently afterwards. Groups are capped at 16 travellers, and a radio guide system is supplied when the group exceeds 10 people.

Reviewers praise the guides' local roots and deep knowledge of the area. Anyone with limited mobility should note the listing states the tour is not wheelchair accessible.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Seekers ViaggiThe group gathers at the Seekers agency headquarters, Via Lucana 106, Matera, in the upper part of the city centre.
2. Upper town walkThe guide leads through the most lived-in part of the centre, where locals reside, introducing how the city developed.
3. Panoramic terrace over Sasso BarisanoThe first of the two Sassi districts is admired from a terrace viewpoint before the route descends.
4. Alleys of Sasso CaveosoThe walk continues through the internal alleys with several stops covering Matera's historical, architectural and cultural background.
5. Santa Lucia alle MalveThe tour visits this rock-hewn church, entry ticket included, and ends here. The guide then shares tips on what else to see on your own.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points help you get the most from this walk.

• Pace and terrain. Reviewers describe the walk as well paced, with one calling it actively paced but not rushed and another noting it was just the right length. Expect a walking route through alleys and terraces with several stops along the way.
• Group size. The listing caps the group at 16 travellers.
• Radio headsets. A radio guide is provided when the group is larger than 10 people. The listing presents this as a standard feature for bigger groups.
• Language. The operator states all guides are very fluent in English, and multiple reviewers single out the excellent, easy-to-follow English.
• Local knowledge. Several travellers note their guides had grown up in Matera or had family connections there, which added personal depth to the history of the Sassi.
• After the tour. The guide ends with suggestions for further sights to visit independently. One reviewer noted there was still plenty left to do for the rest of the trip afterwards.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, per the listing, and it requires good weather; if it is cancelled for weather, a different date or a full refund is offered. There is also a minimum number of travellers, and if that minimum is not met you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund. The radio guide system is only supplied when the group has more than 10 people. Refunds require cancelling at least 24 hours before the start time.

Common Questions