Hotel Locanda Di San Martino Matera

Sono di Taranto, cittā industriale a circa 75 Km da Matera. Avevo un gran bisogno di rilassarmi e scrollarmi di dosso lo stress e questo posto si č rivelato essere proprio quello che cercavo. L'hotel č formato da vari ambienti e si trova all'interno della zona storica dei Sassi, dichiarata Patrimonio Mondiale dell'Umanitā dall'UNESCO; il posto č stato ristrutturato in modo davvero eccezionale. Io avevo la stanza n. 8, chiamata "la chiesa", e dal balcone potevo godere della meravigliosa vista dei Sassi. Anche la colazione era molto buona. Non dimenticate che č un italiano a consigliarvi questo posto.

This hotel is brilliant. Situated in the famous Sassi of Matera, it fits beautifully into the extraordinary (UNESCO World Heritage) physical environment of the caves, casting wonderful combinations of light in every direction.

I stayed at Locanda di Martino for the third time in November 2006, this last time with a friend who was equally blown away by the setting and understated luxury of the experience.The rooms are elegant, the architectural details gorgeous, the comforts (bed, furniture, bathrooms, visual and auditory privacy) first rate. Whether the visit is for cultural and gustatory tourism or romance or hiking and sight-seeing in Basilicata, I think this hotel is a perfect base. The staff is friendly and professional in every way, very comfortably multilingual, and is very attentive to traveller needs and desires. This is really a special hotel in a very special place.

We stayed in the locanda for three days in late November (my birthday treat!) but i wish it had been twice as long. Perfect for cocooning (the 'Eremo' room was a real nest and hard to leave...), for admiring the views of Matera and as a base for walking tours, museums and lovely restaurants. I am a well seasoned and fairly fussy traveller, who knows Italy well and expects good service. Here at the locanda I can only say all my needs were taken good care of, with a sophisticated and elegant simplicity, taste and 'savoir faire'....We were plotting our next visit before we even left!

Great for both the romantic couple and as a family holiday, I cannot reccomend this holiday destination for the discerning traveller too highly! bravissimi! thankyou for a wonderful birthday !

i'm italian, from taranto, an industrial city about 75km far from matera, to relax and stay away from stress. this place helped me and i finally got what i was looking for. the place is made by many ambients in the historic area of sassi, a worl heritage site protected by unesco, and restored in a fantastic way. i had the room n.8 named "la chiesa" and just outside i could enjoy a fair balcony looking on i sassi.i enjoyed also a good breakfast. absolutely suggested by an italian.

My family and I stayed at the Locanda in August of 2006. We had been advised to stay here by a friend of a friend and he did not steer us wrong. I booked with the hotel directly after visiting their excellent website. It is a series of beautifully renovated caves high up on the walls of the Sasso Barisano, one of the two ravines on that divide the city. Each room is totally different, and has a name as well as a number

Our suite, #6 called dell'Alchimista, had brick tile floors, air conditioning, simple tasteful furnishings, a modern bathroom and electricity, but the walls have been left in their natural state. Stone block arches separate the space into three "rooms", one with our queen-size bed, one with our son's single and a little sitting area between the two. There are niches and shelves scooped out of the living rock walls that provide handy places to put our stuff. Windows and doors are built into the cut stone block walls that protrude only a couple of feet from the side of the cliff into which the caves are carved. The blocks meld seamlessly with the natural stone walls. The panorama from our doorway across and down the ravine is a monochromatic vista of square sand-colored stone houses. Rooftop terraces with potted plants and the ubiquitous clotheslines of laundry dot the view. It is like going back in time to an ancient age.

The hotel's other rooms are spread out along the cliff at various levels connected by stone walkways and staircases. It is unlike any place we have ever seen, and surprisingly comfortable. You can drive right up to the hotel to unload although the stone streets are quite narrow and an adventure just getting there. The hotel has valet parking; there is no room to park here in the sasso, so the car is whisked away to a garage in town. There is a lift to the various levels, so baggage handling was not too bad. The entire staff was friendly and extremely helpful, everyone spoke English very well. Breakfast was tasty with a big selection of fruit, pastries, breads, meats, cheeses, a fritatta one day, good coffee and juices.

Not only are you in the heart of the historical sassi district at the Locanda, but a three minute walk up a few steps, down a short street and you are in the Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the heart of the modern city. There are excellent restaurants both in the sasso, just minutes from the hotel as well as near the Piazza up in town. We ate at Oi Mare and L'Osteria in the sasso, both very nice. Make a reservation at L'Osteria and dine outside with a fabulous view. All in all, I would highly recommend the San Martino for a completely unique and wonderful experience.

This hotel is just beautiful - and right in the Sassi (the old town in Matera). There are some great restaurants and bars nearby and the friendly staff are on-hand to help you.

We parked in a nearby underground carpark just outside the sassi. We wouldn't recommend trying to drive into the sassi, as it's very narrow and confusing. Don't try and take a heavy suitcase though - lots of stairs.

We stayed in "La Chiesa" the former rock-hewn chapel. With stone floors, a massive high arched ceiling and the bathroom in a small cave at the back. Furniture is simple and stylish.

Breakfast is served in a simple, calm dining room, with a great selection of pastries, bread, fruit, meats etc.

We thought this hotel was fabulous and wish we had been staying for longer.

We just loved our stay in Matera and in particular in this hotel ! The hotel is perfectly located, in the heart of the sassi and just a few steps away from the main square. The rooms are all different, with beautiful cave walls and ceilings. They are simply but tastefully decorated and comfortable. Bathrooms are excellent and the buffet breakfast was delicious. The staff is professional and helpful. You don't need to pay more, it's a perfect choice!

This is an wonderful find, and the best hotel I found in Matera by far. The young owners, an American woman and her Italian husband, bought several cave dwellings and created a 28-room boutique hotel in the heart of the Sassi. The rooms are all different, with curvy, cave-like ceilings and walls, yet well-lighted, tastefully decorated and comfortable. Bathrooms are excellent and the buffet breakfast was the best I found in Italy. The upper town and main square are just a few steps away. It's an easy walk to anywhere in the Sassi or to any of the local restaurants in the upper town. The staff is professional and English-speaking. An excellent choice!

It was rainy and cold when we stumbled into the sassi needing a place to sleep for the night. From steps leading down from a piazza, under low archways, and over narrow cobbled passageways, we found ourselves on the highlight of our 18 day trip all around Italy (not that it wasn't ALL wonderful!) And after not walking far, we came to this hotel. The concierge was wonderful. He spoke perfect English even though he said he spoke only a little. He gave us a warm room for the night for a great price, including breakfast. He was extremely helpful and friendly with giving directions and restaurant recommendations.

The room was right in the middle of the sassi, in a totally modernized room, with a very clean bathroom with a standup shower, a great bed very high off the ground, and satellite TV. The breakfast was one of the best we had out of the 9 hotels we stayed in while in Italy. It included the usuals like pastries, fresh coffee to order, and yogurt but we also had kiwi juice, a chocolate torte, and hot scrambled eggs.

Highly recommended!!!

What a charming hotel. The rooms have been completely renovated with vaulted stone ceilings and new baths. Every room is unique. Located within the Sassi old town, but very close to the center of modern Matera with upscale shops. At least a couple of excellent retaurants are a short walk from the hotel. The breakfast buffet is good. This inn is officially rated a 3 star but is a solid 4 star establishment.