€ 315

Matera Highlights: Rock Churches & Cave House Private Walking Tour

3 hours
Private Tour
Bari, Matera
Food Tours Tastings, Walking Tours, Youth and Family

Matera Highlights: Rock Churches & Cave House Private Walking Tour

Discover the soul of Matera with a guided journey through its ancient cave dwellings, iconic rock churches, and breathtaking views.

Explore the heart of Matera with a private tour that unveils the timeless beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accompanied by a knowledgeable and passionate local guide, you’ll wander through the iconic Sassi districts—Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano—where ancient stone houses, caves, and churches are seamlessly carved into the soft limestone. These unique neighborhoods, with their labyrinthine alleys and stepped lanes, tell stories of centuries past and offer breathtaking views at every turn.

Step inside a carefully preserved traditional cave house to discover how families once lived in these rock-hewn spaces, often sharing them with animals and relying on clever natural ventilation and light. This immersive experience brings to life a way of living that endured up to the mid-20th century and forms a vital part of Matera’s cultural identity.

Your journey continues with a visit to one of Matera’s famed rupestrian (rock-cut) churches, some of which date back to the 8th and 9th centuries. Marvel at Byzantine frescoes and intricate architecture that reflect the city’s deep spiritual and artistic heritage. These sacred spaces, hidden within the rock, hold centuries of stories and symbolism waiting to be uncovered.

As you explore, your guide will share legends, historical facts, and local insights—explaining how Matera transformed from a place of poverty to a cultural capital and sought-after film location. From Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ to the latest James Bond film, Matera has captured the imagination of filmmakers and visitors alike.

Whether you’re passionate about history, architecture, or simply curious about one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, this tour offers an unforgettable glimpse into the soul of Matera—far beyond the postcard views.

1

Sasso Caveoso: Walk through ancient cave dwellings and panoramic viewpoints

2

Rock Church Visit: Explore a rupestrian church with medieval frescoes

3

Cave House Museum: Step into a recreated historic home

4

Sasso Barisano: Discover artisan shops and unique cave architecture

5

Piazza Vittorio Veneto: Learn about the underground cisterns and 18th-century structures

at your accommodation in Matera

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EXCELLENT
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Based on 130 reviews
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Chynah Z profile picture
Chynah Z
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An absolutely amazing tour! Our tour of the Roman Forum and Colosseum with Yev was one of the highlights of our trip! Yev was incredibly knowledgeable, funny, personable, and engaging. He made the history fascinating and brought everything we were seeing to life. He was also incredibly patient with all of our questions, took the time to get some great group photos, and made the entire experience feel fun and personal. What truly set Yev apart was the care he showed toward my 78-year-old nana. He was so attentive to her throughout the tour, making sure she had plenty of opportunities to take breaks and easy access to water. He never made her feel rushed or like she was holding anyone back, and that meant so much to our family. Yev went above and beyond to make sure everyone had an incredible experience. We learned so much, laughed a lot, and made memories we’ll never forget. If you’re visiting Rome and considering a tour, book with Yev — you won’t regret it! 🇮🇹❤️
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Molli E
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Absolutely amazing! Guilia was absolutely amazing. Her wealth of knowledge was far beyond what we were expecting and it made everything we saw so much more meaningful. She was funny, kind, patient, and extremely well versed in Roman and world history. It was one of our most favorite days in Italy. Grazie mille!
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Michael M
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Great Experience - Tour of Colosseum, Palatine Hill, St. Clemente Basilica Had a great tour and experience with Massimiliano! He was knowledgeable and personable. Took us to a quant, authentic restaurant for lunch... that was a bonus! Will definitely book with Crazy4Rome again in the future.
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Nikki G
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An Unforgettable Evening with Sonia & Lorenz We had the absolute pleasure of having Sonia and Lorenzo come to our VRBO in Italy to prepare a special dinner celebrating my in-laws’ 50th wedding anniversary, and they made the evening truly unforgettable. From start to finish, Sonia and Lorenzo were wonderful. They were warm, professional, incredibly accommodating, and clearly passionate about what they do. The food was absolutely incredible—each course was beautifully presented, fresh, authentic, and full of flavor. It felt like we had a five-star Italian restaurant right in our own home. What made the evening especially meaningful was the care and attention they put into the experience. This was a very special milestone for our family, and Sonia and Lorenzo helped make it feel even more memorable. Everything was handled so seamlessly, allowing us to simply relax, enjoy an amazing meal, and spend time together as a family. Everyone in our group absolutely loved the experience, and having Sonia and Lorenzo cook for us was truly one of the highlights of our trip to Italy. We cannot recommend them highly enough and would absolutely book them again the next time we are in Italy. Thank you, Sonia and Lorenzo, for helping us celebrate such a special occasion and for giving our family a memory we will always cherish! ❤️🇮🇹
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Nora B
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Amazing experience on a hot day! Although it was 100 degrees and we didn’t think we’d make it, Yevgeniyy was professional and passionate from beginning to end. He is extremely knowledgeable and explained every single detail to kids and adults. He knew short cuts and exactly where to go. Not a second was wasted. I would 100% use him again for any trip I’m Rome!
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Inken C
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Fascinating time with Yev Yevgen was a wonderful guide! He was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, passionate and great at engaging my 12 and 14 year olds. We especially loved the underground portion of the Colosseum (fascinating and cool on a very hot July day). Highly recommend the guided experience as we learned a ton and didn’t have to wait in lines.
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Celine G
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Our tour and tour guide were amazing! Our tour guide, Yevgen, was amazing! He was so knowledgeable, attentive to our needs and had a great sense of humor! Definitely recommend this company. It is our 2nd time using them and I have had great experiences both times.
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Celine G profile picture
Celine G
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Great tour & guide!! Amazing tour! Our tour guide Yevgen was so attentive, engaging, historically knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor! This was my 2nd tour with this company and when I come back, I will definitely use again!
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Kate R profile picture
Kate R
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Wonderful tour We requested for our tour to be in two languages (Italian and English), and they were able to accommodate our request. Matteo was amazing at switching between two languages as needed and had answers to absolutely all the questions. Definitely recommend for those who wish for a great experience.
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TLC
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Vatican Tour w/Tatyana Visited Vatican on a hot summer day. Our guide Tatiana was the perfect fit for that situation. She has 20 years of experience & it showed! She was able to move us through lines easily to get the tour started, knew all the shady spots to stand etc. Her love for the history of The Vatican shines through! What an incredibly passionate, knowledgable & beautiful person she is! We felt blessed to have her as our personal guide for the day!

Book Your Tour

Details

Admission Ticket: This tour includes the admission tickets.
Languages: English, Spanish, French, Russian, German, Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese
Kids Friendly: The children are welcome. Please write me if there are kids in your family group.
Disable Friendly: The tour is disabled friendly. Please contact me if you need a wheelchair.
Dress Code: We suggest wearing comfortable shoes.

Destination

Start Time

From 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Duration

3 hours

Price

€ 315,00 private guide service per tour (fixed per group price: family, friends, colleagues...)
+ € 10,00 ticket and entrance fee adult (per person price) or + € 5,00 ticket and entrance fee under 18 (per person price)

Included

Guiding Services, Admission Tickets, Private Tour, Skip the line Tickets

Not Included

Personal Expenses, Souvenirs, Food, Drinks, Snacks, Private Transportation, Public Transportation Tickets, Private driver, Private luxury car, Taxi, Private boat