Ape Calessino Tuk-Tuk Panoramic Tour of Matera

The Ape Calessino is a little open-sided three-wheeler built on the Piaggio Ape chassis, and in Matera it has become a cheerful way to see the old town. Drivers thread these tiny vehicles through lanes that cars cannot enter, stopping at viewpoints over the ravine and giving a running commentary on the districts, churches and history. This standard panoramic tour lasts roughly forty minutes and has a very high rating, with an average around 4.9 from nearly two hundred travellers. It is not a full tour of the Sassi, and it is not meant to be: think of it as a lively introduction, or as a way to reach vantage points without the climb. It is especially popular with families, groups with different mobility levels, and travellers who want a short activity between a long lunch and an evening walk. The vehicles are small, so groups are intimate, and the driver is usually happy to adjust stops or answer questions. You sit close to the street, wind in your face, with the stone houses rising overhead. Seats are simple, the ride can be bumpy on cobbles, and there is no roof in some versions, so plan for the weather. For a modest cost it gives you photographs, context and a sense of the layout, and it often delivers the most fun per minute of any activity in town.

The tuk-tuk is best used strategically. If you arrive in the afternoon and want to see the old town before dinner, a forty-minute ride covers the main viewpoints and helps you choose where to return on foot. If you have already walked the Sassi, the ride can show you parts of the ridge and the edge of the canyon that you might skip. Either way, it works as a well-paced break.

Seats are cosy and the sides are open, so bring a hat for sun and a light jacket for the shade, especially in shoulder seasons. If you get carsick or dislike narrow, bumpy rides, think twice. Wheelchair users should ask the operator about boarding, as the vehicles are small and have a step. Child seats are not guaranteed, so check the operator's policy if you are travelling with very young children.

The operator also runs longer routes and a private version, and some departures cover night views of the illuminated Sassi, which are especially atmospheric. If you want to go deeper into history and stories, look at the longer versions, which spend more time on legends and anecdotes. If you only want a short, light introduction, this standard route is the one.

One more practical point is timing. Late afternoon departures sell out first because of the light, so book those earlier than a morning slot. If you want a night ride, ask the operator about evening departures, since the illuminated Sassi from the seat of a tuk-tuk is one of the more memorable ways to see the city.