ITALY - BASILICATA - Matera

Authentic cave stay experience in the City of Sassi: Where modern meets ancient

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  • Basilicata
  • Self Drive , luxury , Tour + Stay (Flights not included) , Food & Wine
  • 2 days / 1 night
  • Luxury
  • Full Board

Matera, European Capital of Culture 2019, welcomes you! Come experience an extraordinary cave stay in its historic center, known as Sassi (UNESCO World heritage site since 1993). Enjoy a truly authentic stay, where comfort and state-of-the-art technology combine with ancient traditions.


What to expect from a cave stay in Matera: Cozy fireplaces, walls marked by human daily life,  simple fabrics, objects and furniture as per local tradition, which create the charm and magic of the grottoes carved out of limestone; The most sophisticated technology, such as floor heating or minimalist design bathrooms and bathtubs made from Corian.

Details

cave stay in Matera means experiencing the charm and magic of ancient times in rooms where the evidence of past lives — either on restored stone flooring and tiles, on the traces of sedimentation on the thick stone walls or on hand woven blankets — are still well visible. You will be surrounded by the flavors and scents of the past, with the authenticity of the dishes interpreted by the best chefs, in which fresh local food takes center stage.

A unique and authentic stay in a location of unparalleled design, ideal for the demanding tourist, who is able to catch through the beauty of this city, Italy’s most authentic history.

Categories of Room/Cave 

Classic Cave: Cosy cave of approximately 35 m2 with recessed shower cabin, accessible through a short flight of steps. Its offers an authentic and pleasant romantic experience (2 beds)

Superior Cave: Romantic and spacious cave of approximately 70 mq2 with bathtub set in a cosy recess, accessible through a short flight of steps, and separate bathroom (3 beds)

Suite Cave: Also known as Bridal Suite, this cave is the only one on multiple floors: approximately 80 m2 divided into a sleeping gallery-type area with big window and balcony that offers panoramic views of the Murgia N.P., a living room and bathtub located in an exclusive romantic grotto with fireplace (4 beds)

Executive Suite Caves: Ancient ensuite “lamione a volta” of approximately 130 m2 with bathtub and panoramic views of the Murgia N.P. Characterized by a massive wooden door that leads to the bathroom and to the picturesque shower cabin placed in a recess carved out of tuff.  Private entrance and balcony from the hotel’s vegetable garden (4 beds)


Guided Tour of the Sassi
The guided tour of the Sassi, included in this package, is an itinerary of approximately one hour and a half with different departure times from which to choose (10:30 - 11:30 - 12:30 - 15:30 - 16:30)Amongst others, we will visit the following places of interest: the Ipogei di Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the Sasso Caveoso and the Sasso Barisano, the casa Grotta (a typically furnished cave dwelling), the Natural Cave, the rocky church of San Pietro in Monterrone. At the end of the tour you will receive a typical surprise.

Optional exclusive experiences to enrich your cave stay in Matera:
- Candlelight dinner in the XIII century church
- Wine and tea tasting with typical snacks
- Cooking lessons
- Wellness massages
- Trekking on the Murgia
- Gastronomic tour featuring Matera’s bread and mozzarella
- Matera by bike

Dates and prices
Price
from 7/31/23 to 11/30/24
Price on request
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Including/Excluding

All prices are intended per room/cave and per night


The price includes:
- Chosen room/Cave with breakfast included
- Lunch or dinner included (Half board)
- Fresh fruit and water welcome treat
- Wifi
- Porterage
- Guided tour of the Sassi
- Tasting of typical products


Not included:
- Flights from/to Bari (Available upon request)
- Transfers in/out (Available upon request)
- Car rental (Available upon request)
- Travel insurance (Health-baggage-annullment insurance available upon request)
- Visa, if applicable
- City tax
- Optional excursions/tours
- Anything not mentioned in "The price includes"


Note:
Full board available upon request
Best period to travel to Matera: all year round

Notes on the trips

HOW TO GET TO MATERA

GROUND TRANSPORT:
 If you travel by car, plan your route through the Google Maps service.
CAMPER: if you travel by camper and require parking, we suggest you stop in the piazza Matteotti near the central station.
AIRPORT: The nearest airport is the new "Karol Wojtyla" in Bari Palese, about 60 miles away. There are numerous national, and international airports and even "low cost", companies which use the airport of Bari.
RAILWAYS: the advised railway stations are Bari, Metaponto and Ferrandina Scalo, then use bus services to the capital of Basilicata, Matera. In addition, in the vicinity of Bari Central Station, you can take the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane that services lines to Bari - Altamura - Matera.
BUS: The various bus companies, provide connections between Matera, the stations and the main towns of the province and the neighboring towns of Puglia.
TAXI: on request
CAR RENTAL: on request
CLOTHING: bring sneakers or hiking shoes for various tours, especially on the Murgia Matera. Possibly also a hiking stick. It is advised not bring strollers, instead in presence of newborn babies, a baby sling.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON MATERA:


MATERA 
A place that has been inhabited since the primal era, where it is easy to trace the history of Man from the Paleolithic until today, the neolithic villages and the vast urban areas of Civilization and the Sassi. 
The Gravina, the Murgia and over 120 rock churches with Byzantine frescoes make this place a unique, where man was able to use the scarce resources of land without destroying it, but integrated with it. Some of the great masters of cinema including Mel Gibson's The Passion of Christ (2004) have set their films in this picturesque environment, and for its peculiarity was the first world heritage side declared by UNESCO "cultural landscape".


The Sassi have been considered World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1993 and were the first listed site in southern Italy. The inscription was motivated by the fact that they represent an extraordinary urban ecosystem, capable of perpetuating the most distant prehistoric ways of inhabiting the caves up to modernity. The Sassi of Matera are an outstanding example of careful use over time of natural resources: water, soil, energy. In addition, Matera are "European Capital of Culture 2019". 
"Matera from the 50s onwards has been an important place for experimentation, innovation, attraction of great filmmakers and artists. 
Matera has made great efforts: from national shame to fame it is the first city of the South to be named a World Heritage Site; it is a city that has implemented some major restoration work, but that has not enhanced its enormous cultural potential. 
A candidate for 2019 Matera's fame has increased, attracting a few habitants back into the caves. Today, many buildings are crumbling and abandoned but a growing number have been restored and trasformed into cosy abodes, restaurants and cave-hotels.


Matera has the opportunity to become a major city attraction not only for tourist but also for its valuable resources and specialize in services of important cultural, historical and architectural value.


Map

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