Sassi Walk With Cave House

Sassi Walk with Cave House, 2 hours, rated 4.68 across 7,885 traveller reviews.

Overview

This two-hour walk, run by Martulli Viaggi, takes you into both of Matera's ancient quarters with a licensed guide, and the two headline stops are an authentic cave house and the Rupestrian Church of Sant'Antonio Abate. Admission to both is covered by the ticket, so there is no paying at the door. Along the way the route follows a panoramic road of narrow streets and winding alleys, with views over the Sasso Barisano and the Sasso Caveoso.

The itinerary begins at a cave house, the Casa Grotta Sassi, then moves on past the Chiesa del Purgatorio and across Piazza del Sedile before visiting the Rupestrian Church of Sant'Antonio Abate. The final stretch runs along Via Madonna delle Virtù and towards Porta Pistoia, with time spent inside Sasso Caveoso itself. One unusual touch sets this tour apart: a local joins the group to share stories of real life in the ancient quarters. One reviewer described meeting a local musician and his cupa cupa, an instrument usually only seen in books.

It suits first-time visitors who want a structured introduction to the Sassi without exhausting themselves. Several reviewers called the pace easy and the tour interesting without being tiring, which makes it a good fit for most fitness levels.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meeting pointThere are two possible meeting points, and which one applies depends on the option selected. The full description names Via Alessandro Volta as a starting point. No hotel pickup is included.
2. Casa Grotta SassiPhoto stop, visit and guided tour of the cave house museum, lasting 10 minutes. Admission is included.
3. Chiesa del PurgatorioA 10-minute photo stop, visit and guided tour at the church.
4. Piazza del SedileAnother 10-minute stop with a guided commentary in the square.
5. Sant'Antonio AbateA 15-minute visit to the rupestrian church, with admission included.
6. Via Madonna delle VirtùA short 5-minute photo stop and guided stretch along the panoramic street.
7. Via FiorentiniA 15-minute walk with guide commentary.
8. Sasso CaveosoThe longest stop, 20 minutes of photo stops, visiting and guided touring in Sasso Caveoso. The tour finishes at a point that depends on the selected option.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this walk.

• Footwear. The listing asks for comfortable shoes, and the route involves narrow streets, winding alleys and a fair amount of standing at each stop. Trainners or broken-in walking shoes are the sensible choice.
• Pace and stops. Reviewers repeatedly describe the tour as easy paced and interesting without being tiring. One participant appreciated the regular stops on a hot day. The two-hour length keeps it manageable even in warmer weather.
• Group feel. This is a shared guided walk rather than a private outing. Some travellers have found larger groups make it harder to hear the guide while walking, so stay close to the guide at each stop if hearing the commentary matters to you.
• Guides. Reviewers praise the guides as knowledgeable and engaging, with one describing their guide's English as perfect and another noting a guide who is from Matera. The review summary also highlights knowledgeable guides as a strength of the tour.
• Food and drink. Food and drinks are not included. However, the ticket comes with a 10% discount coupon for MòVado Food & Drink in Duomo Square, collected at the agency. Reviews mention enjoying a local encounter along the way, so budget separately for any refreshments.
• What to leave. Luggage and large bags are not allowed on the tour, as stated in the listing. Pack lightly for the walk.

Common issues. The main complaint in the review summary is that larger groups can make it hard to hear the guide while walking, and some travellers suggest headsets would help. Food and drinks, hotel pickup and drop-off, and tips are all excluded, so the ticket covers guiding and the two admissions only. Large bags and luggage cannot be brought along. The two meeting points can also cause confusion, so check which option and starting location applies before heading out. As with any outdoor walking tour, very hot days add strain, though one reviewer found the scheduled stops helped.

Common Questions