Hotel Sant'Angelo Sassi Hotel & Spa sits above Piazza San Pietro Caveoso in Matera's Sasso Caveoso quarter, the southern and older of the two cave districts that together form the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The piazza immediately below is one of the most photographed spots in Basilicata, with the rupestrian churches of Santa Maria de Idris and Santa Lucia alle Malve carved into the cliff face directly across the ravine. Matera Centrale railway station is around 1.2 kilometres away; the property lies within the pedestrianised zone, so guests should confirm the vehicle access point with the hotel before arrival.
The hotel is built into and around ancient sassi caverns, extending across multiple levels of the rock face. Cave rooms retain the original tufa stone walls and vaulted ceilings; several units have been cut deeper into the rock to add alcoves, while the panoramic rooms on the upper levels open onto small terraces with unobstructed views over the Gravina ravine. Room counts vary by configuration but the property operates as a mid-range boutique, with pricing below the ultra-luxury cave hotels while delivering genuine sassi authenticity.
The wellness centre includes a cave spa with treatment rooms, a sauna, and a small relaxation area finished in the same warm tufa stone as the guest rooms—an atmospheric setting that distinguishes it from hotel spas built in conventional spaces. The restaurant serves regional Lucanian cuisine with an emphasis on pasta dishes, grilled lamb, and local cheeses. A bar and an outdoor terrace complete the public areas.
Service is focused on the independent traveller and couples market. Staff can arrange guided walks through the Sasso Caveoso's painted rupestrian churches and excursions into the Parco della Murgia Materana across the ravine. The property is well positioned for guests who want immediate access to the most atmospheric part of the Sassi without the pricing of the top-tier cave hotels.
Room types
- Cave room
- Deluxe cave room
- Suite with terrace
Amenities
- Spa & wellness centre
- Sassi panorama views
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Terrace
- Cave rooms
Location
Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, 75100 Matera MT, Italy
40.6635, 16.6052 View on map
Highlights
- Cave rooms cut directly into the ancient tufa cliff with original vaulted stone ceilings and deep rock alcoves
- Piazza San Pietro Caveoso location gives immediate access to the rupestrian churches of Santa Maria de Idris and Santa Lucia alle Malve
- Cave spa set inside the tufa rock with treatment rooms, sauna, and stone-walled relaxation area
- Panoramic upper-level rooms with terraces overlooking the Gravina ravine and the opposite cliff face
Tips for visiting
- Ask specifically for a panoramic room with a terrace when booking—not all cave rooms have outdoor space, and the ravine view is the highlight of the Sasso Caveoso location
- Piazza San Pietro Caveoso hosts outdoor film screenings and events in July and August; the square directly below the hotel can be lively in the evenings during these periods
- Book spa treatments on arrival day rather than the night before departure—the cave spa is compact and treatment slots fill quickly in peak season
- The walk from the hotel to Piazza Vittorio Veneto (the main civic square) involves a steep ascent through the sassi alleyways; allow 20 minutes and wear shoes with grip