Culture and Flavours Hike – Saracen Village
Discover a unique experience that combines nature, history, and taste in the heart of the Murgia Materana Park. Our exclusive hike to the Saracen Village will take you to an extraordinary place, far from the traditional tourist routes, where millennial history meets the authentic flavours of Basilicata.
The day kicks off at our meeting point, the Passi nei Sassi office at Via Don Minzoni 13 in Matera. From here, a short bus ride (about 20 minutes) takes you to the entrance of a private area of the Murgia Park, a place normally not accessible to the public. Even during the journey, you'll enjoy evocative views of the city and the surrounding countryside, a prelude to what you'll experience.
This is the start of the nature walk (about 1h30), a route immersed in the silence and beauty of the rocky landscape. Our expert guides will tell you about the rich flora and fauna that inhabit the park: aromatic plants, wild flowers, birds of prey circling in the sky, and traces of the animals that live in this precious ecosystem. Walking along the paths, the landscape slowly opens up to reveal the main destination: the Saracen Village.
This ancient rock settlement, carved into the limestone, preserves the memory of communities that centuries ago knew how to adapt to a harsh but resource-rich environment. Visiting it means taking a real journey back in time: you can see how our ancestors organised spaces to live, work, and pray, discovering environments that tell of resilience, ingenuity, and a deep connection with nature. It's a moment that always leaves everyone speechless, a direct encounter with the living history of Murgia.
After the visit, you'll walk to the farm of Pasquale, the landowner. Here, the genuine hospitality typical of Basilicata takes centre stage: a convivial experience that turns the walk into an opportunity for sharing and discovery. The tasting, which lasts about 1h30, offers locally produced extra virgin olive oil, accompanied by a selection of typical Lucanian products: cheeses, cured meats, Matera PGI bread, and other traditional peasant specialities. There will be no shortage of Lucanian wines, an authentic expression of the territory, which will make this moment even more special.
After savouring the flavours of the land, you'll calmly return to the entrance of the private area, where the bus will be waiting to take you back to Matera.
The whole experience lasts about 3h30 – 3h45, which flies by thanks to the perfect balance of outdoor activities, culture, and gastronomy.
