Vetera Matera

Vetera Matera, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a luxurious and unique experience nestled within the ancient Sassi district of Matera, Italy. This 5-star hotel, which opened in 2025 after an eight-year restoration, masterfully blends the historical charm of cave dwellings with contemporary comfort and sophisticated design.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Vetera Matera is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently rating it as "Exceptional" (averaging 9.6 out of 10 on Booking.com). Travelers describe their stays as "superb," "unforgettable," and "the epitome of style and luxury." The hotel is praised for its ability to create a "dreamy" and "magical" atmosphere within the ancient Sassi.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently highlight several standout features:

• Location: The hotel's prime position in the heart of the Sassi di Matera old town is frequently lauded, offering stunning views and easy walkability to major attractions.
• Design & Architecture: The unique architecture, where rooms and facilities are carved into the ancient rock and seamlessly blend with modern amenities, is a major draw. Guests appreciate the "beautifully preserved and restored" and "elegant stylish" environment.
• Spa & Wellness: The Elysium Spa, described as an "excellent and true experience in a cave," is a significant highlight, featuring a spa pool, sauna, steam room, aromatherapy shower, and cold plunge pool.
• Service: The attentive, friendly, and helpful staff receive consistent praise, making guests feel at home.
• Amenities: Features like the complimentary shuttle service (from parking), terraces with city views, and luxurious details like quality linens and toiletries are frequently mentioned.

3. Room Quality

Vetera Matera's 23 rooms, including suites and villas, are a remarkable blend of history and luxury. Guests rave about the "cool cave rooms with modern amenities," noting them as "stunning property and gorgeous rooms." Many rooms offer breathtaking views of the Sassi, while others provide an intimate, subterranean refuge with vaulted ceilings and natural stone walls. Descriptions range from feeling like waking up in a "500-year-old Romanian palace" to simply being "very comfortable" and "luxurious." Rooms are equipped with air conditioning, private bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, tea/coffee makers, minibars, and safes. Some suites even boast private pools and spacious balconies.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel's dining options contribute significantly to the guest experience.

• Breakfast: Described as "amazing, very tasty and varied," breakfast is a "sensory experience" featuring a rich buffet of fresh, local, and organic products, including homemade cakes and artisan jams. Options include continental, Italian, full English/Irish, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, American, buffet, and à la carte.
• Restaurant (Artema): The Artema restaurant aims to be a gastronomic landmark, interpreting traditional Lucanian dishes with a creative Neapolitan touch, emphasizing seasonal and local ingredients. It's housed in a stunning internal courtyard and a large underground hall.
• Other options: The hotel also features a bar, coffee shop/cafe, and outdoor seating. An underground wine cellar offers tasting experiences.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at Vetera Matera consistently receives high praise for their "attentive," "friendly," and "helpful" demeanor. Guests have highlighted their eagerness to please and ability to make stays feel "like HOME." The shuttle service staff, in particular, are noted for being very helpful with luggage. Some guests mentioned that not all staff spoke English, which occasionally caused slight discomfort.

6. Location & Accessibility

Vetera Matera boasts an "amazing" and "superb" location right in the main Sassi di Matera old town. It offers stunning views of Matera and is walkable to all areas of town, including the hike across the gorge, Palombaro Lungo, and Matera Cathedral. However, accessing the hotel by car requires parking in a garage approximately six minutes away, which costs €50 per day. The hotel provides a convenient shuttle service (often with a new VW ID BUZZ) for transportation to and from the parking, which is highly appreciated by guests despite the parking cost and tight driving lanes.

7. Value & Pricing

Vetera Matera is considered a "pricey boutique cave hotel" and a luxury experience. While some reviews indicate "great value for money" for the overall exceptional experience, others note that the restaurant and bar can be "more than double" the prices found in town, and the parking fee is considered a "rip-off" by some. Room prices can start from around $337 USD.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, a few recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:

• Breakfast Options: Despite the high quality, some guests found the breakfast offered only one egg option (scrambled) that wasn't particularly tasty, feeling "forced" to order from the à la carte menu. The coffee, while good, was sometimes wished to be from a proper espresso machine rather than Nespresso.
• Housekeeping Inconsistency: A few guests reported inconsistent turndown service or general housekeeping.
• Parking Costs and Logistics: The €50 per day charge for off-site parking, along with the shuttle service logistics, was a point of contention for some, who found it expensive and the shuttle service occasionally slow.
• Spa Etiquette: One guest mentioned a massage therapist coughing during a treatment, which was a concern.

Sources

1. veteramatera.com
2. italiasecrets.com
3. michelin.com
4. booking.com
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8. relaischateaux.com
9. materaitalyhotels.com
10. veteramatera.com
11. veteramatera.com
12. hotels.com
13. trip.com