Here at Casa Mia we love sharing the best of Italian food, culture and history with our guests. Our tours range from cooking with a local in a beautiful garden in Sorrento to learning how to row a traditional Venetian boat. However, we also love to create custom itineraries and experiences that are tailored exclusively to you. Whether you want to delve into Italy’s fascinating history, learn about traditional wine making or simply taste cheese all day, we will create something bespoke for you. A recent example of one of our unique tours was a deep dive into the history and culture of Matera, and we spoke to one of our guests, Sara M, to find out more about their experience:
What Is Your Travel Style And Have You Done Private Tours Before?
I mostly travel with my partner; we both love history so the decisions we make about which places to visit tend to be because there is something we want to see. Sometimes it’s a particular museum or archeological site, or maybe the town or city is full of history that we want to learn more about.
We’re both independent and like to explore by ourselves for the most part. However when it comes to really getting to know somewhere and having a full understanding of that place, we always like to book an in-depth tour. While I do a lot of research and reading before traveling, there is nothing that can replace the knowledge and information a local guide can give us!
Our preference is for a private guide, so yes, we have done private tours before. Both I and my partner ask plenty of questions so with a private guide we know we aren’t monopolising their time or distracting them from other guests. I also like being able to customize our itinerary for the tour, focusing on the things we are most interested in.
Why Did You Choose To Visit Matera?
Matera was a planned stop on a wider trip in southern Italy. It was a city I had always wanted to visit, both from reading about the cave dwellings and also after seeing it on screen in the James Bond film ‘No Time To Die’.
I knew a little bit about the history of the city. The story of the people that had lived in caves carved out of the rock for centuries, and that in recent decades Matera was made a UNESCO World Heritage site because of how special the city is. When I was researching where to stay in Matera, it struck me how little I actually knew however.
Looking at Google Maps, seeing labels for the Sassi di Matera, the cathedral, different rock churches and more, I didn’t know where to start. After doing more research I was able to find a hotel on the edge of the Sassi of Matera (the old part of the city) and then was determined to find a tour that would expand our knowledge.
I’d also read that the food in Matera was excellent so I was excited to try some of the local specialties!
Why Did You Choose To Do A Casa Mia Tour?
When I started researching Matera tours, I couldn’t find what I was looking for.
I didn’t just want to do a food walking tour (even though they sounded great) as I only had one full day in Matera and wanted something more history focused. I also didn’t want an introductory tour as this wouldn’t have gone deep enough into the city culture and history. So, I turned to Casa Mia for help with a custom itinerary – they had arranged tours for me previously so I knew they would be able to do something special!
Casa Mia put together a full day where my partner and I could get to know Matera well. We walked all over the Sassi of Matera with our local guide Angela, exploring the caves, rock churches, local craftspeople and ancient history of the city as well as stopping for lunch in a little bakery. This was exactly what we wanted; heavy on the history and culture with a generous side of tasty food.
What Was Your Favorite Part Of The Tour?
I have to give you my top 3 favorites, it’s not possible to choose just one!
1. The Rock Church of St Mary of Idris
This church is on top of a rocky hill, one of the higher points in the Sassi of Matera, so to get to it we had to weave through the little paths and steps. You then come out on the small piazza in front of the church and get the most amazing view!
The rock church dates back to around the 15th century but there are older sections inside going back much further. It was so different from other churches I’ve visited in Italy and other places in Europe, and Angela pointed out the details in the frescoes that are specific to Matera.
2. Matera Bread
Our lunch stop was at a small bakery tucked away in the back streets of the Sassi. We would never have discovered it by ourselves! The owners were so lovely and generous with their time and food, it was a really special part of the day.
We tried lots of their products, including foccacia topped with different vegetables and cheeses, breadsticks, an amazing pie filled with caramelized onions, sweet cookies and more.
What made it even better was that despite eating more bread in one sitting than I have in a long time, I didn’t feel sluggish afterwards. The flour they use in Matera comes from durum wheat, and combined with the natural fermentation process, results in bread that is light and stays fresh for days.
3. Seeing The Two Sassi
Until Angela explained the history of Matera, I did not know that there are actually two Sassi of Matera.
The Sasso Caveoso looks more rustic and has not been modernized in the same way as the Sasso Barisano, which is where most of the hotels, shops and restaurants are. The two regions are both full of things to see but they are quite different. I loved being able to see both sides of the two districts and learn why they look different.
What Were You Most Surprised By On Your Matera Tour?
The first thing I was most surprised to learn was that the history of Matera went back way further than I knew. There is evidence of human settlements in the area around Matera as far back as the Paleolithic Age which is just unbelievably old.
From the edge of the Sassi you can look down and see the river Gravina and the Murgècchia hill opposite, with ruins of ancient churches and other caves built into the rock. Something about being able to see the long history of Matera in this way really makes it clear how special the city is.
The other piece of information that fascinated me was that you cannot own cave buildings outright. Since the Sassi of Matera were taken over by the Italian government in the 1950’s and the people living here were removed for their own safety, no one can buy a cave. You can only lease one, as long as you comply with the many rules around preserving the buildings.
This approach to conservation and preservation is really interesting, and I think part of what makes the city so appealing. I know that whenever I return in the future, Matera will still look like it does now.
Would You Do Another Custom Tour?
Absolutely! Doing a guided tour is such a rewarding part of travel, particularly when it is with someone who has a huge depth of knowledge. Being able to shape the direction of that guided tour and focus on exactly what I want out of my visit is so valuable, so yes, there is no doubt I would arrange another custom tour in the future.
If you’d like to know more about the type of bespoke experiences we can create, or are interested in seeing Matera for yourself, get in touch with us today. We can arrange private tours, tasting experiences and even multi-day itineraries all over Italy, so what are you waiting for?
