We visited Matera, Italy, for the first time in early October and found it to be absolutely…read moreamazing. The whole city is fascinating, especially its history, which is worth exploring to better understand. The most famous part of Matera is called the Sassi, which means "stones." This area is made of two old neighborhoods, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, where people carved their homes and churches directly into the soft rock of the mountains. It's one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, with a history dating back 7,000 to 9,000 years! You can now walk through these neighborhoods and get a feel for what they might have looked like back then. The architecture is very interesting because the houses are stacked on top of each other, with some roofs serving as streets for the houses above. It's hard to believe that people lived there under very difficult conditions up until the 1950s; at one point, it was even referred to as the "shame of Italy." This was due to the very poor conditions of living. Some people even lived with their livestock under the same roof! However, things have changed significantly since the Sassi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Today, you can walk through the narrow alleys, explore the restored cave homes, and find restaurants and hotels built into the caves. It has become a major cultural treasure. Our group of six agreed that it was a fantastic visit, well worth the time and effort. I highly recommend taking the opportunity to see Matera's ancient Sassi.

An UNESCO world heritage site Matera is well worth your time to come and explore. Amazing people…read moreand food. Prices here are very reasonable and there are hundreds of hotels and B&B to choose from. I recommend coming on the shoulder months as it was super pleasant to walk around and not be crushed with people. Matera is filled with history and is the 3rd oldest in the world. Amazing tours to be taken. Transportation is available if walking the steps is a bit much for you. If you come to Southern Italy Matera is a must see.

If you are in Matera, this is a must see quick tour of the 2nd largest water collection system in…read morethe world. It's 3 euro to get in per adult. It will take you no more than 30 minutes and you can see and learn about the history of the place.

What an interesting and history filled place. So worth a visit!! The cistern was hand carved…read moreduring the ancient times of this city and captivates you immediately upon entering the space.

In a few words, this is both a tourist trap and a demonstration of the unrestrained greed of the…read morecomune of Castellana Grotte. The tickets to the Grotte are offensively expensive, given what you get; the tour is long (in time and distance) but rushed; there are too many people by half in each group (and too many groups at once: you constantly run into groups going in the opposite direction, creating traffic jams in the narrow passageways; paradoxically, you're glad for the traffic jams because they're essentially the only opportunity you have to stop and look at what's around you); the lighting inside is tenebrous to put it mildly, which renders 80% of the formations impossible to see (in fact, there are lights everywhere; they're just not turned on, apparently because the approximately €3,000 they're raking in per hour aren't sufficient to illuminate the grotto); you're not allowed to take photos inside because the comune owns the rights to images of the grotto (search Google; you'll find hundreds for free); there is no unpaid street parking anywhere near the grotto; the website doesn't explain clearly that groups are admitted only on the hour, meaning that you may find yourself twiddling your thumbs in a cesspit of a town that has NOTHING going for it but a few overpriced restaurants and shops selling tawdry souvenirs; and, to add insult to all that injury, your 18€ ticket doesn't even entitle you to go to the bathroom for free. Puglia ought to be ashamed of itself for this kind of scabrous tourist con, or Castellana Grotte ought to be ashamed, or someone ought to be ashamed. But no one is and, at times, that's travel in Italy in a nutshell.

Great to know the history of this old ancient castle on top of the hill in Bari…read more Our tour guide Daniella was so knowledgeable. They preserved what ever left of it since it was looted until it was declare by UNESCO as a one national monument. When in Bari visit the area and experience ancient history . The tour will take you by bus and walking is moderately needed. Be careful with knee problem.

This was a great experience to see the Trulli, Alberobello person. The weather was great and able…read moreto walk around and savor the moment on this place. We started the walk with a tour guide that explained the history and relevance of the limestone roof houses for the farmers . It was well preserved and maintained well. The city itself was a good walking tour to see most of the historic site. The church , the plaza and then the main square were shops , restaurants and gelateria were there. I would suggest put in your walking shoes and try aka Lira's Focacceria after your site seeing . Ciao

Absolutely magical. So much history and truly unique architecture. This city dates back to the 14th…read morecentury and is known for its trulli -- traditional whitewashed stone huts with cone-like roofs. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-visit destination for those interested in history, architecture, and southern Italian charm. It's quite magical!

It really wonderful- and free - cathedral to visit, where Saint Nicholas, yes the real one, lies…read moreburied. This is the original Saint Nick, the inspiration for Santa Claus. Cathedral itself is gorgeous inside, and the two lies in the basement. There are several icons and statues to Saint Nicholas both inside and outside the church. Walk around this area is gorgeous as well, I recommend it in the inner city.

On the eve of the feast day of Saint Nicholas 2025, I started this review. The basilica is a truly…read morewonderful shrine and holy site. Words cannot express what should be experienced in person. In the Middle Ages, commerce drove prosperity, and in the Christian era, the greater the prominence of your local shrine the more the town prospered. Add to this, the rise of Islam, and the systematic destruction of parts of what is now Turkey by militants, and you can see why the relics of St Nicolas were brought to Bari in 1087. The crypt where the Saint is buried is a holy place where even the air itself feels heavenly. Come prepared and respectful. Wear decent clothing. Pray, and be transformed. St Nicholas once ransomed three impoverished young girls from being sold into sex slavery by providing gold coins for their dowry (this is where the gifts and the stockings hung by chimneys came from)... a visit here has the potential to ransom you from this mad world into the person you were meant to be.

Great place to take a walk along the Adriatic Sea in downtown, Bari!…read more Nice clean and safe city downtown