La Dimora Di Matello

$247 per night

Room2 guests

Basilicata, Italy

An ancient, limestone grotto in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Matera has been transformed into a chic boutique hotel.

The city of Matera in Southern Italy is known as la Città Sotterranea, or the Subterranean City, and for good reason—inhabited since the 10th millennium B.C., its historical center is made up of a series of limestone caves. This area, known as Sassi, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

With the goal of creating a dialogue with the context and history of these caves, architects Marina and Alfredo of local firm Manca Studio redesigned and refreshed the interiors of a subterranean house and transformed it into a sleek, four-room hotel and spa named La Dimora di Matello.

Modern home with Bedroom, Floor Lighting, Night Stands, Table Lighting, Bed, Chair, and Terrazzo Floor. The plaster was added to sections where the masonry was compromised. Photo of La Dimora Di Matello

The plaster was added to sections where the masonry was compromised.

Modern home with Exterior and Stone Siding Material. The “Sassi” of the Southern Italian UNESCO World Heritage City of Matera are ancient cave dwellings dug out of the region’s limestone rock, which have been used by humans from as far back as 7000 BC. Photo 2 of La Dimora Di Matello

The “Sassi” of the Southern Italian UNESCO World Heritage City of Matera are ancient cave dwellings dug out of the region’s limestone rock, which have been used by humans from as far back as 7000 BC.

The limestone rock is known locally as “tufo” of tuff.

Modern home with Outdoor, Small Patio, Porch, Deck, Stone Patio, Porch, Deck, Front Yard, and Horizontal Fences, Wall. In some parts of the ancient city, the streets run above these subterranean cave homes. Photo 4 of La Dimora Di Matello

In some parts of the ancient city, the streets run above these subterranean cave homes.

Modern home with Outdoor, Small Patio, Porch, Deck, Front Yard, and Stone Patio, Porch, Deck. In Sasso Barisano, one of the two Sassi districts in Matera, just off a historical street called Via Fiorenti is La Dimora di Matella – which translates to “The house of Metellus” – a cave house that has been transformed into an atmospheric, four-room hotel and spa that beautifully melds modern design with history and nature. Photo 5 of La Dimora Di Matello

In Sasso Barisano, one of the two Sassi districts in Matera, just off a historical street called Via Fiorenti is La Dimora di Matella – which translates to “The house of Metellus” – a cave house that has been transformed into an atmospheric, four-room hotel and spa that beautifully melds modern design with history and nature.

Modern home with Dining Room, Wall Lighting, Terrazzo Floor, Table, Chair, and Pendant Lighting. “All spaces, both internal and external, were restored and designed to accommodate all the new features of the hotel with harmony and comfort,” says Marina. Photo 6 of La Dimora Di Matello

“All spaces, both internal and external, were restored and designed to accommodate all the new features of the hotel with harmony and comfort,” says Marina.

Modern home with Living Room, Chair, Pendant Lighting, Terrazzo Floor, and Table. Manca Studio hired skilled workers with experience in historical restoration to recover the cave dwellings and repurposes the chambers into comfortable and elegant public areas and four intimate and romantic suites. Photo 7 of La Dimora Di Matello

Manca Studio hired skilled workers with experience in historical restoration to recover the cave dwellings and repurposes the chambers into comfortable and elegant public areas and four intimate and romantic suites.

Modern home with Hallway and Terrazzo Floor. The single-level hotel and spa is spread across 3,229-square-feet, and includes a reception hall, a spa, and four bedrooms that all have access to an outdoor terrace. Photo 8 of La Dimora Di Matello

The single-level hotel and spa is spread across 3,229-square-feet, and includes a reception hall, a spa, and four bedrooms that all have access to an outdoor terrace.