We visited Matera, Italy, for the first time in early October and found it to be absolutely…read moreamazing. The whole city is fascinating, especially its history, which is worth exploring to better understand. The most famous part of Matera is called the Sassi, which means "stones." This area is made of two old neighborhoods, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, where people carved their homes and churches directly into the soft rock of the mountains. It's one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, with a history dating back 7,000 to 9,000 years! You can now walk through these neighborhoods and get a feel for what they might have looked like back then. The architecture is very interesting because the houses are stacked on top of each other, with some roofs serving as streets for the houses above. It's hard to believe that people lived there under very difficult conditions up until the 1950s; at one point, it was even referred to as the "shame of Italy." This was due to the very poor conditions of living. Some people even lived with their livestock under the same roof! However, things have changed significantly since the Sassi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Today, you can walk through the narrow alleys, explore the restored cave homes, and find restaurants and hotels built into the caves. It has become a major cultural treasure. Our group of six agreed that it was a fantastic visit, well worth the time and effort. I highly recommend taking the opportunity to see Matera's ancient Sassi.

An UNESCO world heritage site Matera is well worth your time to come and explore. Amazing people…read moreand food. Prices here are very reasonable and there are hundreds of hotels and B&B to choose from. I recommend coming on the shoulder months as it was super pleasant to walk around and not be crushed with people. Matera is filled with history and is the 3rd oldest in the world. Amazing tours to be taken. Transportation is available if walking the steps is a bit much for you. If you come to Southern Italy Matera is a must see.

Nice people very delicious food customize approach to customers approach to customers very…read moreinteresting food . unique place I would say location on Architect

This restaurant honestly served the best food I have had in Italy. The homemade pasta was insanely…read moredelicious, the fresh catch fish cooked covered in salt; OH MY GOD!!!! It was the best fish meal I have had in my life. Even the waiter Mario was so professional explaining the food, you would feel like you're on tv show trying the food. Just go and enjoy!!!

Entering through the gates of Borgo Egnazia the cares of everyday life begin melting away. The…read morecrunch of gravel beneath your feet as you walk into the building give way to the cool quiet of the main area of the lobby. The fragrance of the hotel is intoxicating. The decor is made of shades and textures of white. All of the lighting is soft and indirect. Candles flicker, straw baskets overflow with almonds, pecans, oranges. The atmosphere is calm and inviting. Secluded alcoves are the meeting place for your personal concierge for your stay. After an intimate greeting you are escorted to your suite. She shares her phone number to text when ready for a longer tour of the property and is at your service throughout the say. The suite is just what you would expect from a premium luxury property. Signature white decor. Massive King bed, high quality linens and towels, sitting area and a terrace with table and chairs. Spacious bathroom with tub and shower, large closets. The Borgo is perfect in every way. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and aperitivo are abundant in choices, quality, relaxing, efficient and friendly. Cocktails are served with tasty nibbles. Breakfast is a room filled with a feast of morning delicacies. The property is massive. Walking through the property the Borgo is a village with many pools, restaurants, fitness center and a world class spa. We enjoyed massage services at the spa as well as the fitness facility. The service and staff are outstanding, friendly and efficient. My time at the Borgo was magical, I didn't want to leave. I venture to say, all of their guests feel the same way.

absolutely the best experience and property ever. From the moment of arrival the feeling of zen in…read morea luxury setting. Brava Borgo Brava!!!

Do not trust this hotel for your confirmed booking !! they pull bait & switch on apartment you book…read moreand try to increase rate at last minute if you booked with hotel directly!! we booked reservation at this hotel for a week - we booked directly with hotel and couple weeks before arrival they tried to increase our rate $1,000. when we refused they cancalled our booking /reservation! terrible!!!

I can't give this beautiful hotel a high enough recommendation. If you ever dreamt of being…read moresomebody's guest at their Italian palazzo, then this is the place. The staff can't do enough for you. The food is excellent. The rooms are spacious and all them amenities are top quality. The staff will recommend day trips and provide everything including transportation. We took the cooking class and learned to make some unusual pastas. Another guest told us about the local cheese store that provides all the cheese for the restaurants. One of the staff took us there one morning to watch them make mozzarella. The store gives you samples of their products including the local Manteca-butter inside of mozzarella It is the second Francis Ford Coppola properties that we have stayed at and highly recommend them. Staying here was like being a guest at somebody's palazzo.

I read about the unique history of masserie in Puglia and was happy to spend my first 3 nights in…read morePuglia here, recuperating from my jet lag! It was the perfect place to relax, unwind and unplug from the world, listening to birds and the wind blowing through the ancient olive trees. As a foodie, I had also heard about the legendary tasting dinners. As a catering executive for 25 years, I offer this input: the portions are way too large! I felt like I was wasting so much food. A tasting ot degustation menu should be comprised of considerably smaller servings. The food was ok, but not anything exceptional. The sweet and sour cabbage dish topped with cod in almond sauce was quite bizarre and for me, not very appealing. Same with fava bean purée served with tomatoes, peppers, grapes and melon. The room accommodations were cozy and well supplied. Would have loved to sit outside and relax more, but the presence of biting flies made it too uncomfortable-- not your fault.

The perfect coda to our time in Puglia, we spent our last night at Masseria Il Frantoio and it was…read moreone of the highlights of our trip. We opted for the "Privilege Room," that was really a sprawling and charming apartment, full of character. We enjoyed some time at the pool with a bottle of wine and some snacks. Dinner was outstanding, a multi-course tour through the region's ingredients, and the service was warm and genuine. The setting is beautiful, and the entire experience feels deeply connected to the region. Highly recommended.

Romantic doesn't come close to the magical dreamy place this is. Yes, lots of walking and mostly up…read moreand down stairs, but this is a cave city. 1,000+ years old. Actually, my lower back felt better walking the terrain then other cities which have flat paved streets. Our room I could relax and enjoy nearly all day. Great food at the hotel such as the buffet breakfast or dinner. And some of the best tasting bread we've ever had is in this town.

Stayed here at the end of our Backroads Puglia bike trip. I see that the reviews are a bit mixed…read morebut most of the negative reviews seem to be from several years ago so maybe the kinks have been worked out. The entire town of Matera is an indescribably magical place that pictures don't do justice to, and this hotel fits right in. Yes, the rooms are created from a series of caves. Yes, our room had a tub in the bedroom (but a separate sink and toilet area). Yes, it got a bit dark when the sun went down but it was not problematic. Reception staff was terrific, as was the breakfast spread. The room did get a little stuffy at night (climate control is outside the room), but the hotel staff quickly bright a fan when we requested one. I'm not sure I would want to stay more than two or three nights here, but it was the perfect place to stay in one of tbe most unique towns I have ever seen.