Just as oysters were once the food of London’s hungry poor, so the cave dwellings of Matera were once home to its most needy residents, with evidence of continuous human habitation going back to Neolithic times. Despite plans to obliterate the site with bombs in the 1950s, this extraordinary piece of living history has not merely survived but thrived. Thanks to a visionary local authority, the once-humble Sassi district now hums to the upmarket beat of boutique hotels, restaurants, wine bars, a spa and, very, very occasionally, a cinematic, high-speed car chase!

Set in the heart of the Sassi, the five-star Quarry Hotel combines some of the original cave houses with the remains of Palazzo Zicari in a makeover that promises a truly memorable hotel experience. Within its ancient, cappuccino-coloured walls, the luxurious rooms and suites are all beautifully finished, each with a palpable sense of the past. The rooms are faintly monastic yet intimately romantic; barrel-vaulted ceilings and snow-white or frescoed walls create the perfect foil for contemporary indulgences, from rainfall showers in the double rooms to private wellness areas in some of the suites.

The Matera skyline, one of the spectacular backdrops for the film No Time to Die, is arguably the most iconic view in the entire region and it’s all yours to savour from The Quarry’s terrace cocktail bar and restaurant. The location couldn’t be more central and as traffic is heavily restricted, the streets are a joy to wander as you soak up the unique atmosphere of the Sassi. From home-made gelato and pizza to posh tasting plates, the town is full of tempting restaurants tucked into cave houses or perched overlooking the ravine that drops away below the town; look out for the sweet, smoky Senise peppers that add an earthy depth to pasta dishes and make a wonderful gift to take home.

Matera sits just over the regional border from Puglia, but as it’s one of the absolute highlights of the area we couldn’t resist including it in our Puglia collection. Staying in Matera also lets you experience this UNESCO World Heritage site in relative peace once the day visitors have left, and makes a wonderful 3-night addition to a week or two at one of our Puglian villas.

Explore our pre-bookable experiences in Puglia

Our choice of Italian properties is diverse, ranging from simple charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal.

To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.