Fenix Tours
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Matera is an AWESOME place. The city, or better said the Sassi, developed on a very thick bank of soft limestone called locally tuff (not to be confused with volcanic tuff - the tuff present in Matera is geologically called "Gravina limestone") and unlike other centers of Puglia of which Matera is part but at administrative level, here what it is impressive, is the extension of the tuff bank and therefore the occupation of the inhabited center throughout the tufaceous rock outcropping.
To complete the visit I recommend at least an excursion in the park. However, it is important to bear in mind in the park, to reach some of the most interesting places such as Villaggio Saraceno or Tempa Rossa means trekking even if for a short distance.
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The housing conditions of the historic center of Matera, known as Sassi, were brought to the national limelight by the publication, in 1945, of the book "Christ stopped at Eboli", set in Aliano, a town in the province of Matera, where the author Carlo Levi had spent his period of confinement during fascism. Only a few pages of the book are actually dedicated to Matera and living conditions in the cave houses of the Sassi, but enough to make the dramatic description of the city in the years of its greatest decline. Inspired by the clamor of the book, the most famous sociologists, anthropologists, journalists and intellectuals of the time visited and described Matera, which became, in spite of itself, the symbol of the backwardness of the South of Italy and of the "peasant civilization". The Sassi were evacuated and followed decades of complete abandonment: the Sassi had become a ghost town, an empty shell, a derelict ghetto, desert and abandoned, characterized by collapse and degradation, a modern Pompeii and although contiguous, completely detached from the rest of the city and removed from the minds of those who had lived there. Thanks to the impulse of some local intellectuals, the city became aware of the value of its historical and cultural heritage and was nominated in 1993 for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Sassi of Matera were recognized "World Heritage" and the rebirth of the Sassi had just begun and would have reserved further awards, unimaginable in the years '50.
The Archaeological and Historical Natural Park of the Rock Churches of Materano, known more simply as the Murgia Materana Park, mainly develops on the rocky plateau of the Murgia and along a side of the canyon excavated over time by the Gravina of Matera. The park surrounds the Sassi di Matera and falls within the territory of the municipalities of Matera and Montescaglioso extending over an area of approximately 8,000 hectares.
The Murgia Materana Park offers one of the most evocative and spectacular rock landscapes in the world, which is why part of the territory, together with the Sassi di Matera, has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In fact, it continuously presents environments that testify to the presence of man since prehistoric times perfectly integrated with a natural environment of great value.
Please do not forget to read the Terms & Conditions before booking. The reservation is valid after the payment of the advance or the full amount.
For the same tour there are two prices based on the number of people. For groups of more than 8 people, please contact us.
After deciding which excursion you want to do, click on the booking button that will open a partially pre-filled e-mail. You must indicate the tour, the date, the number of participants and your special requests. Probably it will take more than one e-mail to define the excursion but as soon as you receive our confirmation email, you can make the payment (in advance or in full).
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If your currency is not the euro (€), it is advisable to pay via the Wise or XE platforms. Paypal applies commercial exchange rates (those of the bureaus of exchange for example) very unfavorable, while Wise and XE apply the official rates with very low fees. Simply open a Wise or XE account and make the payment via the mobile app or PC by making the transfer to the bank account of Fenix Tours. The bank details will be communicated to you in the confirmation e-mail
The balance can be paid either with Paypal, Wise and XE or at the latest, at the start of the tour by credit card or cash (euro).
With the exception of the road connecting the Sassi built during the Fascist period, there are no roads accessible by car.
The only way to explore it is on foot.
There are many monuments scattered in the various areas of tourist interest, in the Sassi, on the Civita, in the Piano and in the immediate vicinity of the city. The half-day excursion does not allow you to visit them all but at least in addition to walking through much of the old town, you can visit some churches such as the Madonna dell'Idris or some small museums that show what life was like for the farmers of old Matera. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes for long walks.
This excursion is free for those who buy at least two days of tour in total.
| 1-3 people | 4-7 people | ||||
| Full Price | Down Payment | Balance | Full Price | Down Payment | Balance |
| 200 € | 60 € | 140 € | 280 € | 84 € | 196 € |
The day tour allows a quiet exploration of the historic center of Matera. In the Sassi, however, with the exception of the "road connecting the Sassi" built during the Fascist period, there are no roads that can be travelled by car. The only way to explore them is on foot.
There are many monuments scattered in the various areas of tourist interest: in the Sassi, on the Civita, in the Piano and in the immediate vicinity of the city. The day trip allows you to visit many points of interest: Romanesque churches such as the one dedicated to San Giovanni, the Convicino di Sant'Antonio, a beautiful monastery composed of several rock churches reused as cellars, The spectacular complex of Monterrone-Madonna dell'Idris, the small museums and shops that in addition to selling original souvenirs allow knowledge of the farming world that fell the lives of the inhabitants of Sassi before the 50s and much more. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes for long walks. For those who buy at least 2 days of excursions, the price of the half-day excursion applies.
| 1-3 people | 4-7 people | ||||
| Full Price | Down Payment | Balance | Full Price | Down Payment | Balance |
| 300 € | 90 € | 210 € | 420 € | 126 € | 294 € |
The basic tour includes the descent on foot along the path that descends towards the Gravina (canyon), from the parking lot of the "Madonna delle Virtù". Then we will cross the Gravina di Matera via the Tibetan bridge to go up the path that climbs up to the Murgia Timone.
The plateau of Murgia Timone has several rock churches and villages and a wonderful overall view of the Sassi of Matera. The rupestrian villages are an example of how the Sassi looked up to the year 1000, being the city of Mathera (ancient name of Matera) limited to the Civita alone. Near the Visitor Center of the Murgia Park there is a Neolithic village documented for the first time by the archaeologist Domenico Ridola at the end of the 19th century. For those who don't feel like making the outward journey again, you can return to Matera with the local bus made available by the Municipality of Matera
| 1-3 people | 4-7 people | ||||
| Full Price | Down Payment | Balance | Full Price | Down Payment | Balance |
| 300 € | 90 € | 210 € | 420 € | 126 € | 294 € |
The day tour involves moving between several distant sites several kilometers by car. In addition to the plateau of Murgia Timone, with a visit to the Neolithic village and some rocky villages, we will visit the Madonna delle Vergini (Murgecchia) with other historical and prehistoric sites of great interest. For those who feel like exploring the valley below, you can go down a path through a lush valley of Mediterranean vegetation you reach the church of Monteverde and for the more athletic, from here you can climb the hill of the church of the Madonna degli Angeli. This ascent presents some difficulties and is not recommended for those who do not have a good physical fitness.
In addition to Murgecchia and Murgia Timone, plateaus from which you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Sassi, we can visit the following sites: Grotta dei Pipistrelli, Villaggio dell'Ofra, Cristo la Selva, Villaggio Saraceno, Madonna della Loë. Most places can be reached after a short or long walk. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes for long walks.
| 1-3 people | 4-7 people | ||||
| Full Price | Down Payment | Balance | Full Price | Down Payment | Balance |
| 450 € | 135 € | 315 € | 630 € | 189 € | 441 € |
