Eco Hotel a Matera — Sleep in the Sassi
Ancient cave hotels in one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. UNESCO World Heritage, European Capital of Culture 2019. Book sustainable stays with IMPT — same price as Booking.com, 1 tonnellata di CO₂ rimossa per prenotazione.
Perché Soggiornare a Matera
Matera is one of the most extraordinary places in the Mediterranean — a city where human habitation stretches back an almost incomprehensible 10,000 years to the Palaeolithic era, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements on Earth. The city rises from the edge of a deep limestone gorge called the Gravina, and its most famous feature — the Sassi — is a labyrinth of cave dwellings, rock-hewn churches, and interconnected passageways carved directly into the soft tufa rock of the canyon walls.
The Sassi di Matera comprises two ancient districts: Sasso Barisano, which faces east and was historically the more commercial quarter, and Sasso Caveoso, which faces south and retains a more raw, untouched character. Together, these districts form a vast troglodyte cityscape that is utterly unique in Europe. The cave dwellings cascade down the sides of the gorge in a dense, interconnected honeycomb of stone, stacked one on top of another, where one family's floor was another family's roof. UNESCO inscribed the Sassi as a World Heritage Site in 1993, recognising them as "the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region."
Matera's modern story is equally remarkable. In the 1950s, the Italian government under Alcide De Gasperi declared the Sassi a national disgrace — a "shame of Italy" — after Carlo Levi's memoir Christ Stopped at Eboli drew attention to the extreme poverty of southern Basilicata. Approximately 15,000 residents were forcibly relocated from the caves into modern housing in the Piano district above. For decades, the Sassi stood largely abandoned, a ghost town of empty caves and crumbling facades.
The transformation since then has been one of Italy's great cultural achievements. Beginning in the 1980s and accelerating after the UNESCO inscription, the Sassi were painstakingly restored. Ancient caves became boutique hotels, atmospheric restaurants, artist studios, and cultural spaces. In 2019, Matera was named European Capital of Culture — a powerful symbol of how a place once considered Italy's greatest embarrassment had become one of its most compelling destinations.
The city's otherworldly landscape has also attracted major filmmakers. Mel Gibson chose Matera to stand in for ancient Jerusalem in The Passion of the Christ (2004), and the stone alleyways and cave dwellings have since appeared in Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman (2017) and the James Bond film No Time to Die (2021), where Daniel Craig's Aston Martin roared through Matera's narrow streets in a celebrated chase sequence.
Beyond the Sassi themselves, Matera holds over 150 rock-hewn churches — the chiese rupestri — scattered throughout the gorge and the surrounding Murgia plateau. These rupestrian churches date from the 8th to the 13th century and contain remarkably preserved Byzantine and Latin frescoes painted directly onto the cave walls. The Gravina gorge itself is a dramatic natural canyon that separates the city from the wild Murgia Materana plateau, a protected parkland of Mediterranean scrub, raptor nesting sites, and ancient shepherd tracks. The population today is roughly 60,000, concentrated mostly in the modern Piano district above the Sassi, while the historic cave neighbourhoods below have become Matera's vibrant cultural and hospitality heart.
When you book a sustainable stay in Matera through IMPT, you are choosing from 8M+ hotels worldwide at the same price as Booking.com, with 1 tonne of CO₂ removed from the atmosphere for every booking. New members receive EUR5 free credit on their first booking, and every reservation earns 5% cashback in IMPT tokens. IMPT works with 25K+ green-certified partners to make sustainable travel effortless — and there is no destination where that mission feels more natural than Matera, a city that has been recycling its own stone architecture for millennia.
Matera at a Glance
Come Sfruttare al Meglio Your Visit
Reaching Matera requires a little planning, but the slight inconvenience is part of what keeps the city from being overrun. The nearest airport is Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI), located 65 kilometres to the east — roughly a one-hour drive. Bari is the cheapest gateway, with budget carriers including Ryanair and Wizz Air serving routes across Europe. From Bari Airport, the most convenient option is the Pugliairbus shuttle, which runs direct services to Matera's central bus station. Alternatively, the FAL narrow-gauge railway connects Bari Centrale to Matera in about 90 minutes — it is a slow but scenic ride through the Apulian countryside. For those coming from Rome, Marozzi and FlixBus operate long-distance coaches that take around 4.5 hours.
Matera has no direct motorway access — the nearest major motorway is the A14 Adriatica at Bari. If you are driving from the north, expect secondary roads (the SS99) for the final stretch from the coast. There is no high-speed rail connection, though proposals for a new rail link have been discussed since the 2019 Capital of Culture year.
Once in Matera, the city is best explored entirely on foot. The Sassi districts are a maze of stone staircases, narrow alleys, and steep cobblestone paths — wear sturdy, comfortable shoes with good grip. Heels and smooth soles are a genuine hazard. The terrain is demanding, with significant elevation changes between the Piano (upper town), the Civita ridge, and the bottom of the two Sassi districts. Budget at least two to three full days to do Matera justice. A guided cave tour is highly recommended for your first day — many of the most interesting spaces (private cave homes, hidden cisterns, concealed churches) are easy to walk past without knowing they are there.
Matera also makes an excellent base for day trips into inland Basilicata and northern Puglia. The abandoned medieval hill town of Craco lies 40 kilometres south — a haunting ghost village perched on a clay ridge, accessible only with a guided tour. Altamura, just 19 kilometres north, is famous throughout Italy for producing some of the country's best bread (Pane di Altamura DOP). The ancient Greek ruins at Metaponto sit 45 kilometres to the south on the Ionian coast, and the spectacular Lucanian Dolomites village of Castelmezzano, with its Volo dell'Angelo zip-line, is about 100 kilometres to the west.
Dove Alloggiare — Matera's Neighbourhoods
Sasso Barisano
The larger and more developed of the two Sassi districts, facing east toward the sunrise. Sasso Barisano has the highest concentration of cave hotels, restaurants, and bars. It is more polished and accessible than its counterpart, with better lighting and smoother pathways. Most first-time visitors stay here. The district wraps around the northern side of the Civita ridge, and many properties offer balconies or terraces with gorge views. This is where you will find Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita and La Dimora di Metello.
Sasso Caveoso
The quieter, more atmospheric of the two Sassi districts, facing south. Sasso Caveoso retains a rawer, less manicured character — some streets still feel genuinely ancient, with abandoned cave openings and crumbling facades alongside restored properties. This is the district most often used in film productions, and the viewpoint near the church of San Pietro Caveoso is one of the most photographed spots in all of southern Italy. Hotels here tend to be smaller and more intimate.
Civita
The high rocky ridge that separates Sasso Barisano from Sasso Caveoso. Civita is the oldest part of Matera — the original fortified core of the city. The Matera Cathedral (1268, Apulian Romanesque style) sits at the highest point, and the streets here are slightly wider than in the Sassi below. Civita offers the best panoramic views in both directions. Accommodation is limited but premium — staying here puts you at the geographic and historical heart of the city.
Piano (Upper Town)
The modern district above the Sassi, centred on the elegant Piazza Vittorio Veneto and Via del Corso. The Piano was built in the 18th and 19th centuries as Matera expanded beyond its cave origins. It has a conventional Italian town centre feel — piazzas, churches, shops, cafés — and is where most of Matera's 60,000 residents actually live. Hotels here are generally cheaper than in the Sassi, and the Piano is flat and easy to walk. The Palombaro Lungo underground cistern is accessed from Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
Dove Alloggiare — Matera's Best Eco Hotel
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Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita
The most celebrated cave hotel in Matera — perhaps in the world. Eighteen ancient caves in the Sasso Barisano have been restored with a philosophy of "minimum intervention," preserving original stone walls, mangers, and water channels while adding modern comforts. Each suite is unique. Candlelit communal breakfasts are served in a 13th-century deconsecrated rock church. No TVs, no minibars — the architecture is the luxury. Founded by the same team behind Sextantio in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abruzzo.
Palazzo Viceconte
A beautifully restored 18th-century aristocratic palazzo perched on the edge of the Sassi, offering panoramic views over the Gravina gorge from its celebrated rooftop terrace. The rooms are elegant and spacious, blending period furnishings with contemporary comforts. The location is perfect — right at the junction of the Piano and the Sassi, within easy walking distance of both the cathedral on the Civita ridge and the restaurants of Sasso Barisano. Breakfast on the terrace at sunrise is unforgettable.
Locanda di San Martino
Set inside a former monastery in the heart of the Sassi, this hotel offers a mix of cave rooms and conventional rooms across multiple levels connected by stone staircases and underground passageways. The standout feature is the thermal cave pool — a subterranean spa carved into the rock. The hotel also has a small cinema room in a cave and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views. The restaurant serves excellent Lucanian cuisine. A characterful mid-range option that captures Matera's layered history.
La Dimora di Metello
A refined boutique hotel in Sasso Barisano, occupying restored cave dwellings with tasteful contemporary interiors. The rooms feature original tufa walls paired with designer lighting and high-quality linens. Some suites have private terraces with views over the rooftops of the Sassi. The hotel is small — just a handful of rooms — which gives it an intimate, personal atmosphere. The location on Via Bruno Buozzi puts you in the heart of the restaurant and nightlife zone of the Sassi.
Hotel San Biagio Relais
Converted from a historic cave church, this hotel in Sasso Caveoso preserves remarkable architectural features including vaulted stone ceilings, original altar niches, and fragments of old frescoes. The rooms are carved into the rock and each one is different — some with dramatic double-height ceilings, others more intimate and cocoon-like. The breakfast room occupies the former nave of the church. The location in the quieter Sasso Caveoso gives easy access to the rupestrian churches and the belvedere viewpoints.
Corte San Pietro
A collection of cave suites arranged around a private courtyard near the church of San Pietro Caveoso, at the very bottom of Sasso Caveoso. The hotel features a small outdoor pool — a genuine rarity in the Sassi — and a terrace overlooking the Gravina gorge. The suites are spacious and thoughtfully designed, with exposed stone, modern bathrooms, and excellent soundproofing. The staff organise guided walks and cooking classes. The location is one of the most dramatic in the city, right at the edge of the gorge.
Cosa Fare a Matera
Recommended Sentieri & Guided Tours
🚶 Sassi Walking Tour (2–3 Hours)
The essential Matera walk. Start from Piazza Vittorio Veneto in the Piano, descend into Sasso Barisano via the steps near the church of San Giovanni Battista, wind through the cave streets and emerge at the Civita ridge and the cathedral. Continue down into Sasso Caveoso, passing the rupestrian churches of Santa Maria de Idris and San Pietro Caveoso, finishing at the belvedere viewpoint at the bottom of the gorge. A guided tour unlocks private cave homes, hidden cisterns, and explains the social history of each layer of the Sassi. Book a morning tour to beat the heat in summer.
🥾 Gravina Gorge Trail (2–4 Hours)
Cross the gorge via the ancient stone bridge below San Pietro Caveoso (or take the footpath from Via Madonna delle Virtù) and hike up to the Murgia Materana plateau on the opposite side. The trail passes cave shelters used since prehistoric times, and the plateau is dotted with rupestrian churches and shepherd huts. Follow the path to Belvedere di Murgia Timone for the classic panoramic photograph of Matera. Moderate difficulty — some rocky sections. Carry water. Best in spring and autumn. Eagles, kestrels, and blue rock thrushes are commonly spotted.
🛤️ Via Appia Path to Altamura (Full Day / 19 km)
For serious walkers, the old road connecting Matera to Altamura follows a route used since Roman times through the rolling alta Murgia landscape. The walk passes through open countryside, dry-stone walls, and scattered masserie (fortified farmhouses). Altamura itself is worth the journey — it is home to the famous Pane di Altamura DOP, one of Italy's most celebrated breads, and the cathedral of Altamura (1232) founded by Frederick II. Return by bus (frequent FAL services) or arrange a pickup. Flat to gently rolling terrain.