Description
This Matera day trip, starting from Brindisi, leaves you free of logistics: you gather with the group in Brindisi or Lecce, and a shared air-conditioned minivan or bus, depending on the group size, does the driving. The road crosses Puglia and Basilicata, past olive groves, hills and small rural villages. The drive takes about an hour and 45 minutes each way from Brindisi, and around two hours and 15 minutes from Lecce.
In Matera, a certified guide from the area leads a walking tour of about two and a half hours through the Sassi, the district carved into the rock that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You see the old cave dwellings, the rupestrian churches and the lanes with panoramic views, and hear the legends and little-known details that explain how people lived here across the centuries, from the earliest settlers to today.
The visit ends with a traditional Apulian aperitivo of local flavours and regional specialities, before the group heads back to the starting city.
- Round-trip transport, shared with other travellers
- Certified guide for the visit of Matera
- Aperitivo with regional specialities
The tour is run in English and suits couples, families and solo travellers who want an easy day out. Note that the lanes of the Sassi have architectural barriers, so people with walking difficulties will find them hard.