Matera Tuk-Tuk Tour

Matera Tuk-Tuk Tour Itinerary

After meeting your guide in Piazza San Francesco, you'll climb on board your tuk-tuk ready to begin your tour of historic Matera. Did you know that this fun vehicle is called an Ape calessino​ in Italian?

Throughout your tuk-tuk tour, you'll make a number of different stops at the city's most important places of interest, allowing you to investigate them up close and take photos. Your first visit will be the Church of Purgatory. Built in 1747, this church stands out for its numerous architectural references to death. Discover why its façade features so many skulls and skeletons on your guided tour! 

Just five minutes away from the Church of Purgatory, you'll reach Matera Cathedral. Located at the highest point in the city, this temple is known for its 52-metre-tall (170 foot) belfry, which towers over the historic centre, and whose seven bells can heard all around the city.

Climb back on board your tuk-tuk for the journey to the Church of San Giovanni, before heading deep into the famous Sasso Barisano and Sasso Cavoso neighbourhoods. These districts are home to the incredible ancient 'sassi di Matera', or cave dwellings, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.

The rock-hewn houses and golden-stone streets of the Sassi districts are so reminiscent of Jerusalem that they have been used as filming locations for iconic movies including Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.

Having explored Matera's most emblematic neighbourhoods, you'll reach Piazza Vittorio Veneto, a square where you'll find an archaeological site with underground rooms and an enormous cistern. The historic 'Palombaro lungo', as it is known, still served to collect and supply water for the city's inhabitants in living memory! Its rock-hewn arches and sheer size are truly impressive.

Your guided tuk-tuk tour will come to an end back in Piazza San Francesco after 45 minutes exploring Matera's main sights.