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Aparthotels & serviced apartments in Matera

7 stays · 6 aparthotels and 1 serviced apartments

Matera is a small city in Basilicata known for the Sassi, rock-cut settlements that Wikivoyage calls well preserved and a World Heritage site. Aparthotels and serviced apartments suit a visit here because the historic streets reward slow exploring over two or three days, and a kitchen and living space make it easier to settle in, buy provisions and use the town as a base for the surrounding Murgia landscape.

7 stays

Where to stay in Matera

Sasso Barisano

  • first-time visitors
  • restaurants
  • sightseeing

Sasso Barisano is on the north side of the valley and, according to Wikivoyage, is partly developed commercially. It is one of the two Sassi districts that make up the old rock-cut town, so you are staying among the cave churches and steep lanes. Expect steps and slopes, so travel light.

Stays in or near Sasso Barisano

Sasso Caveoso

  • quiet stays
  • views
  • photography

Sasso Caveoso is on the south side. Wikivoyage describes it as the most historically interesting of the two Sassi. It is a good choice if you want to be close to the rock-cut churches, which Wikivoyage says are found throughout both districts.

Stays in or near Sasso Caveoso

Civita

  • first-time visitors
  • cathedral views
  • walking

Wikipedia treats the Civita as part of Matera's old town alongside the two Sassi and the Piano. Wikivoyage describes the cathedral's spire, 90 metres high, as standing out on the skyline. It makes a central base for walking among the old town's sights.

Stays in or near Civita

Piazza Vittorio Veneto and the upper town

  • transport links
  • evenings out
  • longer stays

Piazza Vittorio Veneto is in the upper town, where Wikipedia notes the large Palombaro Lungo cistern beneath the square. It sits above the cave dwellings rather than down among them, and Wikivoyage says the Sassi are about a 20-minute walk downhill from the station area, so it is a more convenient choice if you arrive with luggage or plan a longer stay.

Stays in or near Piazza Vittorio Veneto and the upper town

Getting around Matera

Matera has no airport of its own. Wikivoyage lists direct buses between Bari airport and Matera, and says the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane runs trains from Bari to Matera Centrale in about 1 hr 30 min, with no service on Sundays. The operator's journey planner lists Bari Centrale and Matera Centrale among its stations. Always check current timetables before you travel.

Within Matera, the Sassi are explored on foot. Wikivoyage says a Linea Sassi bus links the station area with the Sassi, or you can walk downhill in about 20 minutes. The same guide advises using only licensed tour guides for organised visits.

Living in Matera for longer

Matera suits longer stays for people who like a small, walkable place, and an apartment lets you cook and shop for yourself. The surrounding region has plenty to see by bus or car, including the Park of the Rupestrian Churches, which Wikivoyage says holds approximately 150 rock churches.

If you are working from Matera for a few weeks, check the walking route from your accommodation before booking: the Sassi are steep and the streets are for pedestrians. Our guide to long-stay accommodation lists what to ask hosts.

When to visit Matera

Check a national forecast service for the month you plan to visit, and bring comfortable shoes for the steep stone streets.

Wikipedia notes the Feast of Madonna della Bruna in July, with an ornamented chariot that is pulled apart by spectators, so July is a busy festival month. The Women's Fiction Festival takes place in late September in the Sassi district, according to Wikivoyage.

Wikipedia gives the city about 60,000 residents and says the Sassi and the rupestrian churches were inscribed as a World Heritage site in December 1993. Matera was also European Capital of Culture for 2019, shared with Plovdiv. Because it is compact, most of what visitors come for is within a short walk. For nearby Puglian bases see Bari and Alberobello, and for background on the format read what is an aparthotel.

Long-stay tips for Matera

Of the 7 properties here, 1 offer an in-apartment washing machine, 1 list a laptop-friendly workspace and 5 include some form of housekeeping. Each property page has a facts box, so you can compare apartments before you book.

7 properties list a full kitchen and 0 only a kitchenette, so check the room type if you plan to cook more than simple meals.

Where room sizes are published, the median apartment here is 30 m².

Moving for work? Our guide to serviced apartments for relocation explains what to look for.

Other cities in Italy

Travelling further? See aparthotels in Rimini, Milan, Rome, Florence, Trieste, Riva del Garda, Naples and Vieste.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area to stay in Matera?

Sasso Barisano and Civita put you in the middle of the old town, while Sasso Caveoso is described by Wikivoyage as the most historically interesting Sasso. The area around Piazza Vittorio Veneto is easier with luggage.

How do I get from Bari to Matera?

Wikivoyage lists Ferrovie Appulo Lucane trains from Bari to Matera Centrale in about 1 hr 30 min, and direct buses from Bari airport. It notes the trains do not run on Sundays.

Is Matera a UNESCO World Heritage site?

Yes. Wikipedia says the Sassi and the rupestrian churches were given World Heritage status in December 1993.

Do I need a guide in the Sassi?

You can explore on foot, but Wikivoyage advises using only licensed guides if you book a tour.

How many aparthotels are there in Matera?

We currently list 7 aparthotel and serviced apartment properties in Matera.

Do aparthotels in Matera have kitchens?

7 of the 7 properties we list have a kitchen or kitchenette in at least one apartment type.

Which aparthotels in Matera have a washing machine?

1 property lists an in-apartment washing machine. Use the facts box on each property page to check.

Sources

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