This is a unique experience - the first time I’ve ever been told “let me show you to your cave” The hotel has done a fabulous job in keeping the original features of the cave. It is hard to see but that’s where the candles come in - I would totally recommend this hotel but I would caution anyone with asthma to consider how they will manage inside the cave - but this is nothing to do with the hotel - it is just the nature of sleeping in a cave!

What an amazing place! Matera is a wonderful city and area to visit and this hotel just makes it even more special. The staff are very welcoming and friendly and were very tolerant of my faltering attempts at Italian! We were given a decent map of the city on arrival and our host highlighted some 'must visit' sights & decent restaurants! Top tip though - it's a good idea to book your restaurant in advance as the good ones can get busy (reception can help with this if needs be). The rooms are all unique, simply furnished but comfortable. The ambient lighting (supplemented by romantic candlelight) is more than sufficient but still makes for a relaxing environment and if you need things a little brighter then the hotel will happily supply extra lamps. You may wish to leave a candle burning in the loo overnight though just to be on the safe side! Plenty of hot water for the roomy shower and hand basin (we didn't try out the bath but it was also a decent size). The room was very clean and kept that way by regular housekeeping visits - they even popped in during the evening to close our shutter whilst we dined out! Breakfast in the former 'rock church' was fantastic - lovely fresh fruits, local breads and cheeses, bruschetta type dishes and way too many tasty cakes to be good for me! The coffee was excellent of course. Matera itself is just amazing - do try to get across the 'Tibetan bridge' to the Park on the opposite side of the ravine to get a panoramic view of the city but make sure you've got fairly decent footwear on and allow a couple of hours to enjoy it properly. The city is not large and can easily be explored over a couple of days. Give yourself longer if you can though and learn something of it's history - there are several good 'cave house' museums (and numerous churches!) - Museo Laboratorio della Civilta Contadina was a favourite for us. All in all, one of the best holidays we've ever had and this hotel provides a unique and wonderful base from which to venture forth - enjoy!

This is definitely a unique hotel. It is in the Civita area of Matera, up a huge flight of stone stairs and all rooms are caves. The rooms are supposed to give you a feel of cave like living with some comforts. There are plugs near the bed but plug adapters are needed and the best lighting is bed side. The room is lit minimally with electric lights and candles. The bath area is not particularly well lit but they did offer to bring a makeup mirror and extra lighting but there aren’t many plugs to plug into. There are no drawers and a few hangars but they are on a rod above a shelf that we used for our bath items. We requested a room with a shower and the large king sized bedded room had a shower but no door. The sink was a farm style stone sink. The bed was high above the floor which I understand is typical for cave dwellers and there is a step stool. You must be careful when you get out of bed. The remaining furnishings consisted of a small side table, some uncomfortable cane back chairs and wooden benches for seating. There was also a bathtub in the bedroom area. The floors are stone with 3/4s of stone being irregular and sometimes slippery. The toilet area is down several uneven stone steps and I needed to hold onto the wall to get there. In fact I needed to be careful to get to the mirror and the shower since that part of the floor sloped down. There is no TV. Our room was on the 2nd floor and we had to walk down two flights of stone stairs to get to the reception and breakfast room. It rained while we were there, so outdoor stairs were even more challenging. The staff is efficient and friendly and there is someone to take your luggage up all of those stairs. Parking is in the new town and you should take a shuttle to get there or else it is a tough 15 minute walk. The shuttle runs every 30 minutes. The breakfast room is also a cave with uneven stone floors. The Breakfast buffet is plentiful and very nice with delicious fresh squeezed orange juice. This hotel is certainly unique and if you want this kind of experience it is first rate, but I personally would chose another style of luxury hotel.

This hotel is beyond amazing; words fail to capture its uniqueness. The staff's dedication to preserving and enhancing its original charm is truly remarkable (thank you, Pietro and Emilia). Our stay in the Palazzo was simply breathtaking – the views, the design, and every detail exceeded our expectations. The staff, incredibly passionate and hospitable, made us feel like family from the moment we arrived. Breakfast was outstanding, with carefully selected ingredients enhancing the experience. The apertivo in the courtyard was a highlight; the wine, cheeses, and meats, along with the friendly staff (shoutout to Nunzia!), created a welcoming atmosphere. Airport transfer was arranged effortlessly, adding to the convenience. Even our children felt right at home. Simply put, this hotel offers an unforgettable experience. Our children are older, so if you have a stroller it could be a little problematic, but that is all of Matera, there are many stairs.

All I can say is wow. The location, the care with which the hotel has been put together, with utter respect for the history and the place. The rooms are so peaceful, the simplicity focuses the mind, and welcome meditation. The staff are very welcoming and the hotel's facilities are just right. Breakfast was particularly superb. This is truly a special and unique experience.