Before Francis Ford Coppola bought a palazzo in Bernalda, the village of his paternal grandfather, this was a relatively sleepy little town, close enough to the beach, the mountains, and an array of fascinating ancient sites to be of interest to visitors, but without any infrastructure to welcome them. Mr. Coppola changed that, creating a haven that beckoned his Hollywood friends and family, as well as anyone who saw photos of it or heard about it. His beautiful hotel is now one of our recommendations for the best places to stay in Bernalda, but we have uncovered another lovely pick as well, this one more affordable.

Now Hollywood comes to Bernalda you can expect to find a collection of excellent restaurants, cafes, pizzerias and bars, and more of a buzz along the old streets and piazzas come the dusk, but this still feels like an authentic Italian town, with local cuisine, and traditional life still rolling along comfortably. 

Basilicata, which is where you’ll find Bernalda, is a relatively quite part of Italy, as far as visitor numbers go, but it’s rich in natural beauty and dotted with ancient hill forts, so the best places to stay in Bernalda are wonderful for hikers looking for access to a range of terrain: you might start in vineyards, walk through ghost towns, and end up by incredible limestone ravines. Bernalda itself is only 30 minutes from a gorgeous long stretch of white, sandy beach, and a coastline littered with more ancient ruins. The best places to stay in Bernalda are also only about half an hour from the ancient cave dwellings of Matera, and only about 15 minutes from Metaponto, a ruined Roman temple.

The Best Places to Stay in Bernalda

For Romantics

• The Palazzo Margherita is an elegantly converted Rococo palazzo in the sleepy town of Bernalda, owned by Francis Ford Coppola. Its nine rooms are a real escape from busy living — cool and artfully decorated with touches both rustic and glamorous. All of them are unique and all are laid out around a central courtyard lush with lavender and rosemary beds. You can dine in the courtyard too, or in the beautiful kitchen. There’s also a pool and a private cinema, and you’re only 20 minutes from the Mediterranean.

For a Rural Retreat

• Borgo San Gaetano has been converted from a collection of old mills and workhouses close to the centre of Bernalda, but also about 45 minutes outside Matera. Now its seven rooms and suites are comfortable and spacious, with original features and rustic details accompanied by all the mod cons. Some of the rooms are ideal for families too.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Villa?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Bari International airport is the closest international airport to Bernalda, around an hour and a half away by car or taxi, and just over three hours away by public transport. Naples International Airport may also be a useful option: about three hours away by car or taxi, and about five and a half by public transport.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Despite its growing fame, Bernalda is still a bit of an escape of a destination, not really part of the summer tourist-trail. It’s close enough to Matera to be used as a base for visiting all the historic sites there. Being close to the beach is wonderful in summer, because it gets pretty hot here! There’s certainly more bustle around the village in July and August, but this is still a magical spot in spring and autumn. If you just want to walk, eat well and recharge there’s really no bad time for Bernalda.

Still not sure where to stay?

• You could expand your search to include all the best places to stay in Basilicata.
• Or consider one of the best places to stay in Matera which is only 30 or 40minutes away or the best places to stay in Maratea, which is on the opposite side of Basilicata?
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.