Half Day Matera

Visit Matera located in the south of Italy in the political region called Basilicata. It is renowned for its landscape since the old town center lies along the sides of a deep ravine, split into two halves by a small hill known as Civita.
Sassi translates into stones and refers to the origin of the settlements you're going to visit. They were partly built and partly carved out of the soft limestone including the houses, churches and grottoes. Making a living in this region was very hard. Throughout your visit, you’ll hear that Sassi was considered as one of Southern Italy's examples of extreme poverty. The region has since been transformed into one of the most important cultural heritage areas, so you will easily understand why such a unique settlement has been listed among the UNESCO sites.
You’ll travel inland to reach Matera, admiring the rich vegetation of the Apulian countryside as well as its hills covered with wheat, the main ingredient used to produce bread known as Pane di Altamura. (Altamura's bread, named after a town close to Matera. Your driver/guide will lead you along the narrow lanes and stairways to explore picturesque UNESCO Sassi Districts. You’ll hear stories of "vicinati" (neighborhoods), a lifestyle of people living in humid one-room house/caves arranged around little yards, labyrinths of winding streets, rock churches and cantinas. Everyone sharing everything they had with other families. Visit one of the furnished cave/houses and learn how some of the locals lived in these caves as recently as 1960s. Shortly before leaving Matera, you’ll climb the small hill opposite the town where you’ll have panoramic views of the deep ravine around where Mel Gibson shot the movie "The Passion of Christ." Re-board your vehicle at this point for the return to the ship.

Departures (Local Time)

1:00 PM (Hours: 4)