Matera
The oldest city in Europe
Matera is the oldest city in Europe the third oldest cities in the world, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and European Capital of Culture 2019. Matera sits like a giant sculpture in the center of the Murgia plateau.
We will visit the ancient town, known as the Sassi, where homes, churches and reservoirs were dug out of caves. The Sassi has its roots in prehistory, preserved almost intact to this day. We’ll discover hidden treasures in churches carved into the stone and painted by Byzantine monks, as well as modest farmhouses, evidence of the bitter reality of mid-20th Century.
NEARBY ACTIVITIES
Bread Tasting – Pane di Altamura and Pane di Matera
Visiting a bakery in Altamura or Matera you will learn about the process of bread making. Indeed, Altamura and Matera, 20 km away from each other, share a millenary tradition in making bread that has recently been formalized with the DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) Pane di Altamura and the IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) Pane di Matera. read more
Cheese tasting
Enjoy the vast production of high quality fresh cheese of Puglia! We will visit an artisanal cheese factory where, from the expert hands of the dairyman, some of the most famous Italian delicacies are born. read more
Cooking class
In introductory Apulian cooking classes you will have the chance to gain practical knowledge about some of the most typical dishes of Puglia, including the most famous orecchiette with broccoli rabe. read more
Food street market
Get a taste of traditional life in Puglia! At least once a week, every Apulian town organizes a local market where you can find local fresh food products... read more
Lunch or dinner in a Slow Food Restaurant
We will take you to the most authentic places, and we will introduce you to Apulian restaurants selected by the Slow Food Movement... read more
Trekking in the Murgia Materana
Enjoy a natural trip outside the urban context of Matera! We will take you to the Murgia plateau, on the other side of the canyon overlooking the Unesco WHS of the Sassi. In the middle of a stunning panorama we will observe the typical plants of the area, deepening many aspects of the natural world. read more
Wine tasting – Gioia del Colle Primitivo
We will visit one of the most famous wineries in Puglia, whose Gioia del Colle Primitivo wines are considered among the best in the world... read more
NEARBY TOWNS
Alberobello
Alberobello is the Itria Valley’s premier location to see trulli, the cone-shaped houses distinctive to Apulia, making it the most enchanting part of Italy’s heel. Alberobello has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and it is a definitely the landmark of Puglia, a unique place that can not be missed. read more
Altamura
Altamura was re-founded by the Emperor Frederick II in the XIII century. The city is well known for its majestic Romanesque cathedral, which is ascribed to the Emperor itself. read more
Bari
Bari is the capital of Apulian Romanesque style. While here, you will see the two faces of the city. First, you will visit the French-influenced Murat quarter, with its elegant 19th Century theaters and majestic Liberty-style palaces. read more
Cisternino
Cisternino is one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Towns, with a natural terrace overlooking the bucolic countryside of Itria Valley. The medieval historical centre is characterized by white-washed, stone buildings with cool, shaded, cave-like interiors. read more
Grottaglie
Grottaglie, the hometown of ceramic, sits on a small hill not far from Taranto, on the edge of the Murge terrace, surrounded by spectacular canyons... read more
Locorotondo
The white and gleaming town of Locorotondo is certainly one of the most fascinating and unique places in Puglia. No wonder that the town is ranked among the most beautiful in Italy... read more
Martina Franca
The elegant Martina Franca is located on the hills of the Murgia plateau between the provinces of Taranto, Bari and Brindisi and is one of the most enchanting towns of Itria Valley. Thanks to its quaintly narrow streets and its unique Mediterranean atmosphere, the town attracts lots of tourists. It is known as the second baroque city of Puglia after Lecce. read more
Putignano
Putignano is a typical ancient village filled with a maze of alleys, narrow streets and small squares surrounded by enchanting loggias. The city is famous for its “Carnival of Putignano”, one of the oldest in Italy, which in 2020 will celebrate its 626th anniversary! Especially during the carnival, the town becomes a real tourist destination, attracting visitors from all corners of Italy and the world. read more
What our guests think of us…
Our guests’ satisfaction is our greatest reward and we couldn’t be more proud of their reviews. That’s why we want your trip to be unforgettable!
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Touring with Apulia Slow Travel was a great experience from the very start. I reached out to Michele for recommendations as a first-time visitor to Puglia and he sent back... read more 
cocochadwick
October 24, 2022
