Matera Tuk-Tuk Tour

Cave dwellings, rock churches and giant ancient cisterns: explore Matera's historic centre on this tuk-tuk tour and discover the 2019 European Capital of Culture in a new way!

Matera Tuk-Tuk Tour

After meeting your guide in Via Alessandro Volta, you'll board your tuk-tuk to begin your tour of historic Matera. This vehicle is known as an "Ape calessino" in Italian.

Your tuk-tuk tour includes several stops at key points of interest. The first visit is to the Church of Purgatory, built in 1747, noted for its architectural references to death, including skulls and skeletons on its façade.

Next, within a five-minute journey, you will reach the Matera Cathedral, located at the city's highest point. The cathedral's 52-metre-tall (170 feet) belfry features seven bells that resonate throughout the city.

Afterward, the tour will continue to the Church of San Giovanni before moving into the Sasso Barisano and Sasso Cavoso neighbourhoods. These areas are known for the ancient 'sassi di Matera', cave dwellings designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Their resemblance to Jerusalem has made them popular filming locations for iconic movies, including Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.

The tour concludes after a 50-minute immersive journey as you make your way to Piazza San Francesco.