We are visiting in Bari and considering a day trip to Matera. Steps are challenging. Is there any walks or areas of town that have sloped walkways or steps with handrails? Also, any tour companies that have day bus trips to Alberobella sp? and Matera? We don’t have a car.
Posted by
5753 posts
There are some areas with railings/ramps, but the sassi is such a jumble (some of which is quite slippery), I would suggest using a tour guide. This is the one I used: https://www.materatourguide.it/en/
Perhaps they can tailor something for you or suggest someone who can.
There is train and bus service to Matera, if you decide to not use a Bari-based tour.
Posted by
Kirkland
230 posts
Matera is truly amazing ... my wife and I were there with a Road Scholar tour in October. Realistically, venturing down into the Sassi area is going to involve lots of steps. Most, as Valadelphia wrote, are polished stone steps or ramps. That said, the "lower" area adjoins the more modern part of Matera and can almost entirely be viewed from the rim of the canyon areas. Frankly, from our perspective, the visual impact of Madera is best viewed from the rim looking down, particularly as the sun sets and the lights turn on below.
Posted by
seattle
2202 posts
I also have difficulty with steps. But there are many areas of Matera that are flat or sloped. We stayed near Piazza Vittorio Veneto and were able to walk to many other neighborhoods. There are many places to look down into the sassi. They are extremely impressive, especially at night when the lights are magical.
Posted by
OP
398 posts
Thanks for the quick responses. We leave tomorrow for a transatlantic cruise and will be in Bari in 2 weeks and hoped to make reservations for this day side trip. I will look for the overlook in Matera. Was hoping tour a Sassi house. The Puglia trip has 4 nights each in Bari, Lecce and Naples. We would like to take one day trip from Lecce. Any recommendations? The city of Naples is full of activities for the 3 days. We have explored Sorrento and the nearby coast/archeological sites. No need to repeat while in Napoli.
Posted by
5753 posts
While in Lecce perhaps you can find a tour that explores the countryside. I had a car both times so cannot say what the best day trips by public transport would be.
You could hire a driver, see Otranto's cathedral and then do a scenic drive along the coast. On the other coast, you could visit Gallipoli.