Tour Matera, i sassi e la storia

Known by such names as “Stone City” and “Underground City”, it is known for historians Sassi, which are one of the oldest residential areas in the world.

Matera is an Italian town of 60,347 inhabitants, capital of the province and second city of Basilicata for the population, as well as the largest municipality in the Basilicata area and nineteenth in Italy.

From 1663 to 1806 was the capital of Basilicata in the Kingdom of Naples. During this period, the city experienced a significant economic growth, commercial and cultural.

The Sassi were recognized Dec. 9, 1993, in the assembly of Cartagena de Indias (Colombia), UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first site in southern Italy to receive such recognition.

Matera was the first city in the south of Italy to rise up in arms against fascism and that is why among the city decorated for bravery in the war of liberation in 1966 having been awarded the Silver Medal for bravery and between city decorated for civil valor as it was in 2016 awarded the gold medal for civil valor.

The November 21, 1954 was proclaimed, with municipal resolution, Civitas Mariae. Saint John Paul II visited it April 27, 1991 described the city of the Visitation and the Magnificat.

The October 17, 2014 Matera was designated, along with Plovdiv (Bulgaria), European Capital of Culture for 2019.

LENGHT

5 days / 4 nights

THEME

Culture, Art City, Food And Wine

Cod. Tour

0117

PACKAGE INCLUDES

Acomodation in Hotel 3 or 4 star	Half board
Beverages	Lunch at local restaurant
English speaking guide

PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Deluxe motor coach during the entire trip	All taxes and fees
Additional Services	personal expenses and optional activities.

For more informations, please contact us.

Day 1: Destination Matera

Arrival of your group in the late afternoon in Matera, accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight

Day 2: Matera

Breakfast in the hotel, meeting with the Guide and visit of this most unique and picturesque cities, consisting of one part modern extended on the plateau and an old:
an attractive town famous for its underground “Sassi” houses, dug into the rock. Lunch in a restaurant.
Stroll through the labyrinth of alleyways to admire the churches carved into the rock, like the Santa Maria de Idris Church, with its frescoes from the 14th and 16th centuries, or the Madonna della Vertu Monastery
Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Matera – Castellana, Trulli and Alberobello

Morning visit to the Castellana Grottoes, formed by an ancient underground river and one of Italy’s most important caving sites. Lunch in a restaurant at Alberobello, in the heart of the area of “Trulli”, fascinating traditional whitewashed dwellings with their roofs covered with flat stones, then continuing to Ostuni, the attractive “White Town” built on a cliff.
Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Matera . Metaponto – Policoro

Breakfast at hotel and departure to Metaponto. Guided tour of the archaeological site of the city and the Antiquarium, one of the more organized and more rich in testimonies of the classical world. Lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon visiting Policoro, among the ancient remains of the city of Heraclea and the National Museum of Siritide.
In the evening return to hotel, dinner and overnight

Day 5: Matera - Bari

Departure for Bari, the regional capital and a major Adriatic seaport. Visit to the town centre and the San Nicola Basilica, one of Puglia’s best examples of Romanesque architecture.
Stroll through the old quarter along the castle walls and through the old harbour district, with lunch in a traditional local restaurant. Short visit in the afternoon to ancient Bitonto and its magnificent cathedral, then continuing to Monopoli/Fasano for dinner and overnight stay in hotel