We'll be in Matera in early September and would like to find a guide for an afternoon tour of the Sassi. Suggestions, please.

I used to see Nadia Garlatti recommended on this board (quite a few people on Fodor's used her), but I don't know if she is still in business. I only recall one complaint where a person was switched to someone else. If you book her, I would ask her if she will be the one guiding you and not someone else.

I emailed Nadia, but have't heard back yet. Before that, I contacted two other guides. We are looking for an early afternoon tour, which seems easy enough. Neither guide was able to help. So we booked on Viator and continue to wait for confirmation that there will be someone to take us around. If that doesn't work, I may see if we can get one guide to give us a morning tour of Altamura and an afternoon tour of Matera since they are only a short distance apart. It's hard to believe that this could be so difficult.

If you are staying at a hotel or bandb why not ask for a recommendation? We have had 3 tours there, 2 recommended by our lodging and 1 was Nadia. Was she better than others? IMO no. Tour was a bit longer but much of what she told us was political blah blah which got boring.

I'm sure you realize that no guide is actually necessary....

I agree with Kia, you don't need a guide.

How could they not know that you didn't think they needed a guide. I mean, since you are absolutely "sure" they should realize that. That is why their asking for advice is so bizarre, don't you think? They should have known what you think is appropriate and necessary for them, right? And if they didn't know all this, they probably shouldn't even be traveling to new places.

At least now they are "probably pretty convinced" (who can be "sure", really?) that they don't need your advice.

It would seem that I chose my words poorly. Let me try again: Although many people seem to believe that a guide is absolutely necessary for Matera, it is not actually an utter and complete necessity. If you prefer to work with a guide, that is, of course, a perfectly legitimate choice. But just in case you hadn't considered it, let me mention, for your consideration, the observation that a guide is not actually necessary. Of course, I don't want to suggest that you didn't consider that option, and I've read that some people who advise others about "tone" on the internet suggest saying things like "I'm sure you realize" as a way to introduce an idea without suggesting that it has not already been considered, but goodness, how is one to know how it will actually be taken unless one writes an entire paragraph with all sorts of possible caveats and qualifications....

Now, I, for one, am probably pretty convinced (as no one can be sure, really), that if people find merit in my advice, they'll take it, and if not, no one else needs to comment on it. JMO.

>>>So we booked on Viator and continue to wait for confirmation that there will be someone to take us around.<<<

FYI - Viator does not operate any tours or have any guides. They are a reseller of other companies products. You are simply using a 3rd party to book.

I might give this a shot:

Info Matera Tourist Information
Tourist information center in Matera, Italy
Address: Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 39, 75100 Matera MT, Italy
Hours: Open today · 9AM–8PM

Phone: +39 0835 680254
Province: Province of Matera

I will add that our small hotel/B&B gave us a lot of information and we had guide books too.

But maybe you aren't staying in town...

We toured with Nadia in April-could it be that she is on holiday here in August, and thus not responding?? She is very knowledgable, and we enjoyed the time we spent with her.

As for whether or not you need a guide-you really don't "need" a guide anywhere we have been in Italy. However how much you learn and get from a place depends on your prior knowledge and what you experience while there. I can't imagine understanding what we saw and experienced being quite as rich without our tour.

Just my two cents!

Also used Nadia and found she greatly enhanced our experience. Nadia grew up in Matera and had terrific insights into life there. But of course, one doesn't need a guide, I rarely use them, but when I do am generally pleased I did.

We had a tour with Antonio and thought he was fantastic:
http://www.materatourguide.it/public/en/about/
We rarely take tours, but we found it added to our experience.

>>much of what she told us was political blah blah which got boring<<

Being bored by something is rarely a matter of choice, so no criticism implied but there is no way to explain the abandoned dwellings of Matera without including what happened because of Italian national politics. It would be a bit like touring historic native American settlements & nobody providing information as to why the inhabitants now live on reservations.

Massimo agree totally. The history needs to be told. Our girl Nadia seemed to be on a bit of a rant about modern day politics the day we were there. It was overall a bit negative.

I would recommend reading the book Christ Stopped at Ebola for further insight about the area. Fascinating reading.

Eboli thank you spell check.

VIator appears to be a dead end. They usually confirm within a day or two, but it's been a week and they still can't confirm. Antonio could not guide at the time we requested. Nadia said she would be available, so I responded with specifics, but I've heard nothing from her for several days. My next inquiry will go to the tourist office, though I wonder whether this is community-sponsored or commercial.

My guess is that Viator is much more pricey than the private guides. I would steer clear of them..
If Nadia is busy,ask her for a recommendation, or ask your hotel if you feel you need a guide.

I didn't get a further reply from Nadia and cancelled the Viator booking. The good news is that I contacted the Matera Tourist Office and got an immediate reply from them, including tour information, where to park and where to have lunch before our tour. Many thanks to all.