Perched high up in the sassi (Matera’s old town quarters, built into and over caves), a converted 13th-century Benedictine church houses L’Hotel in Pietra. The reception-breakfast room occupies the sometime nave, with soaring ceiling and looping tall arches. All of the characterful rooms are different, imaginative conversions of the unusual spaces the old buildings provide. Most have extraordinary views, too - over the town and across to the cathedral. The peace is palpable: the sassi lanes are too narrow and stepped for vehicles.
Down in the town centre, there's also a beautiful apartment, complete with exposed stonework and lofty windows. In both locations, a mix of French, Italian and Brazilian furniture decorates, lovely solid pieces arranged with a pared-down simplicity. Walls are pale exposed stone, a warm gold. Modernist touches marry well with the antiquity, such as large low, wood-edged double beds and thick glass partitions.
Highs
- A remarkable place to stay in a remarkable city - Matera is utterly beautiful and the hotel is so unique and full of character
- Beautiful, pared-down design, with antiques and carved-wood furniture set against sandstone arches, cave interiors and thick glass
- A laid-back relaxed atmosphere and the self-catering Loft 79 apartment is ideal for more independent travellers
- Utter tranquillity - the sassi are interconnected via tiny lanes unsuitable for traffic
- Owners are proud of their hotel and eager to please
- The rooms, hotel and whole town is impossibly romantic
Lows
- The Standard Single (1001) is extremely tiny and snug - but the room has a good view
- Not for the athletically challenged - most rooms have steep or uneven stairs and some have ladders, plus there are steps to reach the entrance of the hotel
- The nearest on-street parking is 80m away; their private garage is 300m away, but this is the nature of staying in the sassi
- This is cave living, so the atmosphere may feel a little damp at times - worth it for us, but guests with respirotary problems may feel otherwise
Best time to go
Spring (May-June) is the best time to visit. July and August are very hot, and tend to be the busiest time. September and October are crowd free and can be balmy, but the weather is unpredictable and may also be a bit cold. Winters are cold, though atmospheric - you might even get a sprinkling of snow. On 2 July, a huge statue of the Madonna Bruna is paraded through town before being torn apart and burned, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display.
Our top tips
Staying in Matera’s sassi is not for people who find steps difficult. Artists, photographers and those interested in architecture and local history will love it.
- Boutique Hotel
- 10 rooms + 1 apartment
- Breakfast (+ walk to off-site restaurants)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
Suites are fabulous: Suite 1004 has a triplex layout, with a beige sofabed on the lowest level, a kingsize double on the next, and a Brazilian chaise longue and sassi views from the third. The bathroom is in a real cave, with a huge round bath and rainfall shower. Suite 1003, has a kingsize four-poster and original bell-tower staircase, which allows access to a Jacuzzi and a small walled terrace with sweeping sassi panorama.
Our Wellness Suite 1007 consisted of a bedroom and stairs through to a sunken cave with walk-in shower room, steam bath and Jacuzzi - it was like a Bond villains lair! The Deluxe Superior 1005 has a kingsize bed, a small Jacuzzi, an alcove desk and walls that dissolve into a cave. The lower, cavelike Standard Classic 1006 has a stone shower. Split-level Standard Classic 1002 is a romantic double with views over the sassi from the bed; a ladder-like staircase leads down to the bathroom. Standard Single 1001 has a beautiful stone bed, and Standard Small 1008 is split-level; both are smaller, but still unique and characterful.
Located on a parallel street (a 2-minute walk from reception) is the Deluxe 1009 room, which boasts spectacular Cathedral and sassi views - very romantic.
Features include:
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
The hotel offers a small but good-quality breakfast buffet, with light-as-air cream-filled cornetti (croissants), crostate (jam tarts), croissants filled with ham and cheese, fruit and fruit juice. You're served with your preference of coffee: espresso, cappuccino etc, or can order tea from the reception bar. In summer you can eat breakfast outside, on the terrace-like area (with views) in front of the hotel. Loft 79 guests have their own kitchen, so self-catering is easy as pie.
Room-service drinks are available all day - coffee, liqueurs and wine by the bottle or glass.
There’s a huge number of cafés and restaurants within a 5-minute walk. If you're dining out, the team will ask you about your preferences and tailor their suggestions to your tastes (high end, cheap and cheerful, relaxed trattoria, pizza). We tried two traditional trattorias in the old stassi – Da Nico and Oi Mari – both were cute and buzzy with typically traditional local food.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Restaurants nearby
- Room service
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Explore the winding alleys and frescoed cave-churches of the sassi. A Unesco World Heritage site, the fabulous ancient scenery was used as the setting for Jerusalem in The Passion of Christ, starring Mel Gibson
- Visit MUSMA, the contemporary sculpture museum, then stroll around the lovely cathedral
- Go for a passeggiata (evening stroll) in Piazza Vittorio Veneto - the whole town seems to turn out for an amble at dusk
- Go hiking, riding or mountain biking in the surrounding countryside; the hotel can arrange guides and bike hire
- Visit the antiquities and paintings of author Carlo Levi at Museo Nazionale Ridola and Museo di Arte Medievale e Moderna
- Explore the nearby ghost town of Craco, and Aliano, where Carlo Levi was imprisoned during the Fascist era
- There are some beautiful beaches about an hour from Matera, in particular the coast south of Taranto (try Pulsano or Torretta)
- Taste the local specialities such as salami, cheese and velvety red wines
- There's a tennis court in Matera, should you fancy a game, or the hotel can arrange in-room massages
- Take Italian lessons, try your hand at Italian cooking or learn how to paint; Roberto will recommend excellent teachers
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Art classes
- Cooking classes
- Cycling
- Golf
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Horse riding
- Language courses
- Mountain biking
- Museums / galleries
- Shopping / markets
- Tennis
Kids
They do accept families but this is a really hushed place - there are steps and drops at every turn (both in rooms and the old town). It could be a headache with a toddler in tow. The antiques and thick glass in many of the rooms would not suit young children clambering around.
Family friendly accommodation:
The Deluxe Superior and the Suites have 2 double beds or a double bed and a double sofabed, and space for a baby cot.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Baby equipment:
Baby cots available on request
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
L'Hotel in Pietra is in Sassi di Matera, the ancient part of the town of Matera, which is dug into the tuff rock (the sassi). Their apartment, Loft 79, is in the city centre.
By Air:
The nearest airport is Bari (65km / 1-hour drive). The main hub for travel from the USA and Canada to Italy is Rome; from there, ongoing flights to Bari are numerous.
From the Airport
The hotel offers a transfer service from Bari or you can hire a car. The hotel is located in the pedestrianised sassi, so you’ll need to park in the new town and walk from there.
By Train:
You can get the bus or train to 'Matero centralo' then walk to the hotel (70m). See Trenitalia for more details.
Detailed directions will be sent to you once your booking is confirmed. 
Read our guide to Getting to Italy and Getting around
Airports:
- Bari 65.0 km BRI
- Rome Leonardo da Vinci International (Fiumicino) 385.0 km FCO
Other:
- Beach 48.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 5 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape