About this tour
This nine-hour day trip links two of Puglia's UNESCO-listed towns, Matera and Alberobello), by coach. Start in Matera's Sassi district, where a local guide leads you through ancient stone-carved dwellings stacked into the landscape. You'll have breathing room to eat locally before heading to Alberobello, where the trulli—conical-roofed houses unique to this region—dominate the hillside. Guided walks through both towns reveal how people shaped architecture to match the terrain.
Highlights
- Sassi's rock-hewn houses carved centuries into living cliff faces
- Navigate tangled medieval pathways beneath arched stone passageways
- Trulli cone-roofed houses clustered across Alberobello's slopes
- Aia Piccola and Rione Monti neighbourhoods, heart of trulli country
- Local food stops between guided sections—eat at your own pace
- Air-conditioned coach with pickup and drop-off
What to expect
You'll board the coach and travel to Matera, where a knowledgeable local takes over. The Sassi walking tour winds through impossibly narrow lanes and switchbacks; buildings appear to grow from the bedrock. Expect stairs, uneven ground, and no obvious left-turn navigating the maze—stay close to your guide. After the tour, you have free hours to find lunch in local trattorias or cafes, watching the day unfold from a piazza. Then it's back on the coach to Alberobello. The second guided walk showcases the trulli up close—drystone walls, whitewashed facades, and rooftops that look like chess pieces. The pace is leisurely but involves hills and more walking.
Good to know
Lunch isn't included, so budget for food in Matera's town centre where options range from casual to sit-down. Wear sturdy shoes; both sites have steep cobbles and stairs. The coach is comfortable but the route has curves. Not suitable if you have spinal issues. Infants must sit on a lap.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.