Nicola Taddonio
Archaeologist and Tour Guide in Matera
Freelance archaeologist, First-tier under the Italian Ministry of Culture classification. Since 2006 I have worked on public and private sites across Basilicata and southern Italy, including the Sassi of Matera.
At a glance
- Since 2006 on excavations and construction sites in Basilicata, Apulia, Calabria and Campania
- Postgraduate specialisation in Classical Archaeology 70/70 cum laude, University of Basilicata
- First-tier archaeologist Since 2025, design-review inspector for archaeology
What I do
Preventive archaeology (VPIA)
Preliminary assessments of archaeological risk (VPIA) for public and private works, combining GIS analysis and field survey.
Excavation and monitoring
Test trenches, excavation and archaeological monitoring for infrastructure, water networks, restoration works and historic centres.
Documentation
Drawn, photogrammetric and topographic survey, GIS and CAD, satellite remote sensing.
Design review
Inspections for the validation of projects in the archaeology discipline (UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17020).
Selected projects
2026, ongoing
“XXI Settembre” stadium, Matera
Archaeological monitoring during restoration works.
2021-2023
Rione Casalnuovo, Sassi of Matera
Excavation and archaeological assistance during restoration for the new Museum of Ethnography and Anthropology.
2020-present
Pomarico (MT), Acquedotto Lucano
From the VPIA to test trenches and monitoring.
2008-2012
Torre di Satriano (PZ), the “anaktoron”
Trench supervisor, Postgraduate School of Archaeology of Matera.
Cultural tourism, food and wine
Tour guide
Since 2013 I have been a licensed tour guide in Italian and English. I lead private visitors through the Sassi of Matera and across Basilicata. I chair ConfGuide Matera and I am vice-president of ConfGuide Italy.
Wine and food tastings
I am an AIS-certified sommelier and I specialise in food and wine experiences: guided wine and food tastings in cave restaurants in the Sassi and in the wineries of Mount Vulture, with the best wines of Basilicata and southern Italy.
Need an archaeologist for a construction site or a VPIA in Basilicata?