Locanda di San Martino in Matera: A Cave-House Stay in the Sassi

A Stone Address in the Sassi di Matera

The doors of Locanda di San Martino open on Via Fiorentini 71, in the heart of the Sassi diMatera, the ancient cave-dwelling quarter that gives the southern Italian city of Matera its unmistakable layered silhouette. Set among pale tufa rock and stone lanes, the address places the property inside one of Italy's most photogenic historic landscapes, where buildings seem to grow out of the hillside rather than stand on top of it.

Location Near the Cathedral

The hotel sits right around the corner from the monumental Matera Cathedral, a 1200s landmark whose Romanesque face looks out over the Sassi gorge. Because both the hotel and the cathedral anchor the same elevated stretch of the old town, stepping out of the entrance already puts visitors inside the same stone setting that has defined Matera for centuries.

Rooms Designed Like Old Cave Houses

Locanda di San Martino's 40 rooms read as a tribute to the building traditions of Matera, with a design that consciously respects the essence of the old cave houses. Interiors echo the warmth and curvature of the rock dwellings the Sassi are famous for, so the sense of place continues inside the room rather than stopping at the threshold. Each room is equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV, a private bathroom and free internet access, supporting a comfortable stay without distracting from the cave-house atmosphere.

A Traditional Hammam and Bath House

Wellness is built into the property in a way that fits Matera's stone-and-water heritage. The hotel features a traditional hammam, a jacuzzi, a sauna and hot public baths, turning what could be a simple overnight stop into a ritual of soaking and warming. After a day exploring the sunlit stairways and shadowy alleys of the Sassi, returning to a tiled bath room cut into the rock feels less like a hotel amenity and more like a continuation of the city's ancient bathing culture.

Practical Considerations

The address, room configurations and on-site facilities described here reflect the information available at the time of writing; some details such as services or amenities may change over time, so it is worth confirming specifics with the property before final plans are made. As a hotel mapped inside the Sassi di Matera itself, transport is on foot through narrow stone lanes rather than by car to the door, an experience that is part of what makes staying in this part of Matera memorable.

An Italian-Style Welcome

A line from the property's own materials invites visitors to look inward for an emotion, suggesting they already know where to go, while the site notes that continuing to navigate means accepting the use of cookies. The tone is welcoming and understated, matching the quiet, stone-walled character of the building itself.