Matera is an incredibly fascinating town with such an ancient soul capable of narrating stories from every corner of the world. Set out on our Vip Tour and live those stories at first hand, learning charming and centuries-old accounts enriched with exciting explanations by our highly qualified guides. The tour starts in our office in 61 Domenico Ridola Street, where participants will be given a bottle of water and a little snack to face the ‘fatigue’ of our journey. Strolling towards Piazzetta Pascoli, one of the most picturesque viewpoints over the Sasso Caveoso neighbourhood, the guide will deliver key notions of the ancient history of Matera. Going down Calata Ridola Street you will enter the Sassi area. Following winding alleys, you will reach an unmissable museum ‘Casa Grotta’ – a traditionally furnished with utensils and farming tools cave dwelling – proof of how the poor inhabitants of Matera had lived until the mid-50’s. As you go further into the Sassi, reaching the bottom of the Sasso Caveoso area, you will visit a rock-hewn church of S. Maria de Idris e San Giovanni in Monterrone, completely carved in the rock and embellished with magnificent frescoes, and enjoy the precious iconographic traces of Greek-Italian monasticism that date back to X-XIII century. The tour continues at a well-known craftsman shop ‘Il Bottegaccio’, where – surrounded by a surprising array of multifaceted artistic creations of the renowned artisan Mario Daddiego, who boasts peculiar papier-maché and pottery production throughout the Basilicata region and the world – you will participate in a thrilling workshop and explore ancient and entrenched artistic traditions of local craftsmanship. The last but not the least leg of the tour is a tasting of local food products that takes place in a picturesque location in the Sassi area.