Le Grotte della Civita
Le Grotte della Civita is an extraordinary cave hotel located in the Sassi district, one of the oldest parts of Matera town. An unbelievable restoration project has taken place here to create a totally unique and unusual hotel experience in this stunning UNESCO heritage site. The completed project consists of 18 double rooms or caves, some of them of outstanding size and proportion. One cave room is quite different from the next, each restored using minimalist, contemporary materials of the highest quality.
Caves are open plan with bedroom and bathroom sharing the same vast space however for those who prefer a touch more privacy there are some caves which offer seperate bathrooms. Within the complex of caves there is a restaurant area which serves delicious, locally sourced produce. The views from the hotel are quite breathtaking, as you face the dramatic scenery of Murgia National Park and the Gravina River below. This stunning area has a great deal to offer the visitor with it's ancient medieval town, Romanic cathedral and tall bastions. Visit Montescaglioso, home to the region's most important Benedictine monastery and Miglionico, a small medieval town. There are also plenty of archaelolgical sites to visit and for those who are feeling energetic there are great hikes into the Murgia Park where you visit rock churches dating back to the 7th century BC.
A visit to this region is incredibly rewarding and can easily be reached from Naples and the Amalfi Coast or from Bari on the east coast.