Amazingly, people have made their homes in Matera for the last seven thousand years, making it the world’s third longest inhabited community. And many of these homes were hewn from the limestone of the hill Matera sits upon. So the city today is a web of ancient grottoes carved higgledy-piggledy into the mountainside on either side of a narrow ravine. It’s extremely picturesque, and entirely unique and now known worldwide through the antics of Daniel Craig in Bond's No Time to Die. Some of these “sassi” cave dwellings have now been converted into some of the best places to stay in Matera. Our Gurus have curated a collection of wonderful cave dwellings and villas turned hotels and B&Bs, with incredible views, unbeatable central locations and lots of space.
Some of our Matera collections:
The historic part of town is divided in two by the majestic, 13th century cathedral, which sits atop a ridge. Explore on foot and it feels as if the entire town is a museum, populated almost entirely by centuries-old dwellings and buildings, which, if the sky is its normal bright blue, seem to glimmer golden. It’s not just the best places to stay in Matera that have been converted from “sassi” cave dwellings, it’s also the bars, cafes, and restaurants, and it’s impossible to walk around town without experiencing its ancient magic. The museums and churches have been purpose built, and really add to the vista – and are probably why the whole of Matera was declared a UNESCO World heritage Site in 1993.
As well as being incredibly picturesque and historic, our recommendations for the best places to say in Matera are also some of our most romantic picks in this part of Basilicata, with great restaurants, beautiful décor and seriously memorable views. If you’re even remotely into sightseeing it would be difficult not to be impressed by the palaeolithic sassi of the Materasum Ipogeo, the Tramontano Castle, and the Casa Grotte di Vico Solitaro. What are you waiting for?!...