Ape Calessino Ride, 40 Minutes

Ape Calessino Ride, 40 Minutes, 40 minutes, rated 4.9 across 195 traveller reviews.

Overview

This is a short panoramic loop of Matera in an Ape Calessino, the vehicle most people call a tuk tuk. ApeVito Tour Experience runs it as a private ride, so the vehicle and the driver-guide are for your group alone. The basic route covers the Sasso Caveoso district, its main churches and squares, and photo stops overlooking the cave houses and the valley below.

The logic behind the tour is simple. Matera's World Heritage-listed rock city climbs a steep cliff face, and walking it is tiring. Riding instead lets you cover the main viewpoints in about forty minutes, then decide where to return on foot. Travellers described exactly this: doing the ride early in a stay to get their bearings, then revisiting the spots they liked at a slower pace.

The meeting point is on Via del Corso, outside the Bank of Italy, and the standard finish is Piazza Giovanni Pascoli, though the operator says the end point can be adjusted to guests' needs. It suits first-time visitors, anyone short on time, and people who find the town's stairs and slopes hard work. It is not wheelchair accessible, and infants must sit on laps.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet on Via del CorsoMeet the driver at Via del Corso 78, at the Bank of Italy. Confirm your exact start time with the operator in advance, since the listed operating window runs from morning to evening.
2. Ride into Sasso CaveosoBoard the Ape Calessino and ride through the streets of the historic Sasso Caveoso neighborhood, passing the main churches and squares.
3. Cave house photo stopsStop for photos of the famous cave houses and the views across the surrounding valley.
4. Finish at Piazza Giovanni PascoliThe ride ends at Piazza Giovanni Pascoli. The operator states the end point can be set according to the needs of the group.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of forty minutes on a three-wheeler in a hill town.

• Start time. The listing asks you to confirm your start time with the local operator in advance. Settle the timing early rather than assuming the booking time is fixed.
• Pace and fitness. The vehicle is not wheelchair accessible, but pushchairs are fine and most travellers can take part.
• Photo stops. Reviewers repeatedly mention photo opportunities at panoramic points. Bring a camera or phone you can grab quickly when the vehicle pulls over.
• Guides and commentary. Many reviewers describe the guide as knowledgeable about Matera's history and happy to answer questions.
• Use it first. The ride gives the layout of the town, which makes later exploring on foot far easier to plan.

Common issues. The ride depends on good weather, and the operator will offer a different date or a full refund if it is cancelled for poor conditions. Free cancellation otherwise requires at least 24 hours' notice before the start time. Scheduling is the main complaint: one reviewer said a time slot was assigned late and did not suit, and another described a booking conflict on arrival, so confirm timing with the operator well ahead.

Common Questions