Santa Maria di Colonna Monastery

It was a beautiful spa hotel about 10-15 minutes drive from Bari. Ideal for motorway access, but you really need a car if you're staying here. Staff were all very helpful, and Michael the waiter on breakfast duty was an absolute star. The real bonus was having the pool to relax in, after being out for the day. It closes at 18.00 every day. The hotel is not impeccable, but rustic in parts, which adds up to the overall charm. I'd definitely stay here again.

We absolutely loved our stay at Cenobio Hotel in Matera. Staying in a cave hotel was such a unique experience and felt like the perfect way to experience the Sassi, while still being incredibly comfortable. The climate-controlled air conditioning worked wonderfully, and the room was a welcome retreat after spending the day exploring Matera. What really made our stay exceptional, though, was Mario. From the moment we arrived, he went above and beyond to take care of us. He met us in the piazza where our taxi dropped us off and helped us carry our luggage to the hotel, which we greatly appreciated given Matera’s many steps and stone streets! He was also incredibly helpful during our stay, including assisting us with restaurant reservations. The combination of the beautiful cave accommodations, wonderful location, and genuinely personal hospitality made this one of the memorable stays of our trip through Italy. We would highly recommend Cenobio to anyone visiting Matera and would happily stay here again.