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!!!

From the owner: Hotel a Matera con vista dei Sassi di Matera dal terrazzino panoramico. Le camere sono…read morecaratteristiche dei Sassi di Matera e scavate nella roccia. Offerte speciali sul sito ufficiale dell'Hotel Il Belvedere.

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

Splendid. Atmosphere. Design. Service. It is as fabulous as the reviews and website state…read more Perfection in Puglia

The Relais Histo' is a great hotel! The hotel isn't far from Taranto. It's surrounded by 70 acres…read moreof olive trees. They produce their own olive oil from the trees and serve it in their restaurants and have bottles for sale. The rooms are great and have amazing views of the courtyard or olive orchards. The showers all have both wands and rain shower heads. The set up is perfect especially if you're tall. The grounds are amazing with hidden treasures around each corner. You never know what you will find from various plants to ancient archaeological finds. I didn't get to explore the whole site by there are plenty of other discoveries throughout the site. A few examples would be: horseback riding, exploring the onsite cathedral and underground aqueduct, and the numerous trails.

What an amazing little gem! This hotel is tucked away in the historic old town of Monopoli and…read morefeels wonderfully charming, even if it's a bit scattered across different buildings. They make check-in seamless using email and WhatsApp for bag pickup and directions to the lobby. The property is a stunning historic building right on the water, with incredible views from the pool and bar area overlooking the sea. Our room was located closer to the castle. . It was absolutely gorgeous, with the most comfortable bed we've experienced. After over a week in Italy and five different hotels on this trip, this was by far the best sleep we've had. Mr & Mrs Smith hotels never disappoint. If unaware, you can find these using Hyatt. The breakfast was outstanding, served with breathtaking sea views. You can also enjoy it in the atmospheric old rock-walled lower level. Now, let's talk about the shower -- yes, the shower. It's easily one of the coolest I've ever seen. The first knob activates side misters that fill the space with hot steam. There's a built-in bench where you can sit and enjoy the mist. Turn the second knob and you get a beautiful waterfall cascading from overhead while seated. Stand up and under the full rain-style shower. And if that's not enough, there's also a handheld wand. Absolute luxury! If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. We loved every minute here and were genuinely sad we could only stay one night

In the old town of Monopoli, on the water adjacent the to the old castle , this whitewashed…read morebuilding (s) are pleasant and comforting. Parts of the facilities are in caves adding even more charm. We arrived just after high season and seem to have the place and town to ourselves. During high season , if you're driving here, you must call in advance and give them your license plate number. The old town has narrowed streets (lanes really)with lots of pedestrians. And only locals can regularly drive here. And , the streets are closed about 6:30pm to all vehicles. This allows lots of walking through the enjoyable old town. Service and staff very friendly and helpful.