Matera

An astonishing journey into an ancient past
 
Round off your journey through southern Italy by continuing to Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover its ancient cave dwellings, Byzantine ‘rock churches’, unique cuisine and legendary bread-making traditions.
Matera. 2 nights
Matera. 2 nights
 

Holiday information

 

Magnificent Matera

You’ll discover architectural gems behind every doorway as you walk through ancient Matera. This fascinating town is a labyrinth of winding streets, squares, rock churches and wine cellars; some parts are literally carved out of the rock. There are surprises around every corner, including some delightful restaurants, coffee shops and wine bars.
 
 

Itinerary

  • Ostuni to Matera: 2hrs by car
    We recommend that you arrive in Matera in the morning so that you can make the most of your time in this fascinating city. The uniquely beautiful Old Town is so compelling, you could easily spend an entire day exploring its honeycomb of ancient cave dwellings, known as sassi. You can follow our notes for a self-guided walking tour, or simply follow your nose and discover its myriad delights for yourself.

    Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Matera is reputed to be among the most ancient settlements in the world, having been continuously inhabited since the Paleolithic era (Old Stone Age). There are relics of Roman and earlier times and interesting archaeological finds in the museum, a former monastery. It is well worth walking up to the 13th-century cathedral, if only for the views of the meandering valley of the Sasso Barisano below, with its maze of residential streets, steps and alleys. Back in the old town, don’t miss the opportunity to sample some local bread – Matera is renowned for its ancient bread-making traditions.
  • Explore Matera & its surroundings
    Today, take time to explore the peripheries of the town or walk in the surrounding rugged countryside, where – further up the valley – you can find ancient cave churches with faded frescoes from the early Middle Ages. These rock churches, most of which are hewn out of the soft limestone, are testimony to the Greek-Byzantine monastic civilisations which were once prominent in the region.
 

Accommodation

Our chosen hotel is located in the heart of Matera’s historical sassi district, a short distance from the city centre. There is limited on-street parking near the hotel, with further private parking (pay locally) a 5-minute drive away.
Locanda di San Martino
  • 3-star superior
 

2023

We are currently unable to take new bookings for this holiday, but hope to be able to do so again soon.
 
Prices
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter
We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.
Please enter an amount Please enter a valid amount British Pound Sterling (GBP)
Currency is required
NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.
  • 2 nights: 01 April 2022 - 30 June 2022 & 22 August 2022 - 31 October 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Apr - 30 Jun 2022 £230 £95
    22 Aug - 28 Oct 2022 £220 £95
    3rd & 4th person discount -£25
    Single traveller supplement £25

    Price per person based on 2 sharing. Includes accommodation, meals and travel to the hotel as described.

    Prices may be different if you are not arranging your transfers for your main holiday through Inntravel or have your own car; please contact us for a quotation.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Locanda di San Martino, Matera
    Junior suite: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2022 £27
    Junior suite: 22 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 £27

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Locanda di San Martino, Matera (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 30 Jun 2022 £112 £160
    22 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 £104 £152
What is included
  • 2 nights
  • 2 breakfasts
  • 2 days' category B car hire
  • detailed documentation
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

Last fetch time is : 12/4/2023 4:50:04 PM

currency iplookup:

cookie value: null

querystring value: null